Volumetric type compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information provider

ABSTRACT

One aspect relates to capturing one or more tomographic-type Compton scattering based visualizations, images, or provided information of an at least some matter of at least a portion of an individual based at least partially on Compton scattering of an at least one X-ray being applied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individual. Another aspect relates to deriving an at least one material characteristic distribution function that substantially fits at least some data obtained at least partially by scattering of an at least one applied X-ray within at least some matter of at least a portion of an individual to form at least one Compton scattered X-ray.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and claims the benefit of theearliest available effective filing date(s) from the following listedapplication(s) (the “Related Applications”) (e.g., claims earliestavailable priority dates for other than provisional patent applicationsor claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patentapplications, for any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent,etc. applications of the Related Application(s)).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

-   -   1. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the        present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S.        patent application Ser. No. 11/786,744, entitled “COMPTON        SCATTERED X-RAY VISUALIZATION, IMAGING, OR INFORMATION        PROVIDER”, naming Edward S. Boyden, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y.        Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord,        Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet, Michael A. Smith,        Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer,        Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed        Apr. 11, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is an        application of which a currently co-pending application is        entitled to the benefit of the filing date.    -   2. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the        present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S.        patent application Ser. No. 11/786,741, entitled “COMPTON        SCATTERED X-RAY VISUALIZATION, IMAGING, OR INFORMATION PROVIDER        WITH SCATTERING EVENT LOCATING”, naming Edward S. Boyden,        Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C.        Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet,        Michael A. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver,        Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as        inventors, filed Apr. 11, 2007, which is currently co-pending,        or is an application of which a currently co-pending application        is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.    -   3. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the        present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S.        patent application Ser. No. 11/786,739, entitled “COMPTON        SCATTERED X-RAY VISUALIZATION, IMAGING, OR INFORMATION PROVIDER        USING IMAGE COMBINING”, naming Edward S. Boyden, Roderick A.        Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt,        Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet, Michael A.        Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer,        Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed        Apr. 11, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is an        application of which a currently co-pending application is        entitled to the benefit of the filing date.    -   4. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the        present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S.        patent application Ser. No. 11/786,776, entitled “SCINTILLATOR        ASPECTS OF COMPTON SCATTERED X-RAY VISUALIZATION, IMAGING, OR        INFORMATION PROVIDING”, naming Edward S. Boyden, Glenn B.        Foster, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung,        Eric C. Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J.        Rivet, Michael A. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver,        Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as        inventors, filed Apr. 11, 2007, which is currently co-pending,        or is an application of which a currently co-pending application        is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.    -   5. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the        present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S.        patent application Ser. No. 11/786,759, entitled “COMPTON        SCATTERED X-RAY VISUALIZATION, IMAGING, OR INFORMATION PROVIDER        WITH TIME OF FLIGHT COMPUTATION”, naming Edward S. Boyden,        Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C.        Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet,        Michael A. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver,        Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as        inventors, filed Apr. 11, 2007, which is currently co-pending,        or is an application of which a currently co-pending application        is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.    -   6. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the        present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S.        patent application Ser. No. 11/786,743, entitled “TOOL        ASSOCIATED WITH COMPTON SCATTERED X-RAY VISUALIZATION, IMAGING,        OR INFORMATION PROVIDER”, naming Edward S. Boyden, Roderick A.        Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt,        Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet, Michael A.        Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer,        Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed        Apr. 11, 2007, which is currently co-pending, or is an        application of which a currently co-pending application is        entitled to the benefit of the filing date.    -   7. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the        present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S.        patent application Ser. No. 11/786,775, entitled “COMPTON        SCATTERED X-RAY VISUALIZATION, IMAGING, OR INFORMATION PROVIDER        IN SOFT MATTER SUCH AS TISSUE, ORGANS, OR BLOOD, AND/OR IN HARD        MATTER SUCH AS BONES OR TEETH”, naming Edward S. Boyden,        Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C.        Leuthardt, Robert W. Lord, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Dennis J. Rivet,        Michael A. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver,        Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr. and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as        inventors, filed Apr. 11, 2007, which is currently co-pending,        or is an application of which a currently co-pending application        is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a notice to theeffect that the USPTO's computer programs require that patent applicantsreference both a serial number and indicate whether an application is acontinuation or continuation-in-part. Stephen G. Kunin, Benefit ofPrior-Filed Application, USPTO Official Gazette Mar. 18, 2003, availableat http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2003/week11/patbene.htm.The present Applicant Entity (hereinafter “Applicant”) has providedabove a specific reference to the application(s) from which priority isbeing claimed as recited by statute. Applicant understands that thestatute is unambiguous in its specific reference language and does notrequire either a serial number or any characterization, such as“continuation” or “continuation-in-part,” for claiming priority to U.S.patent applications. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Applicantunderstands that the USPTO's computer programs have certain data entryrequirements, and hence Applicant is designating the present applicationas a continuation-in-part of its parent applications as set forth above,but expressly points out that such designations are not to be construedin any way as any type of commentary and/or admission as to whether ornot the present application contains any new matter in addition to thematter of its parent application(s).

All subject matter of the Related Applications and of any and allparent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the RelatedApplications is incorporated herein by reference to the extent suchsubject matter is not inconsistent herewith.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Certain aspects of this disclosure can relate to, but are not limitedto, a variety of embodiment of Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information providers, and associated mechanisms and/ortechniques.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a scattering event in which an X-ray photon isscattered, such as can be performed by certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of yet another embodiment of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider including a collimator;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider including a scanning shieldportion;

FIG. 8 shows a diagram of one embodiment of an at least one emitterportion that can be included in certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 9 shows a diagram of another embodiment of the emitter portion thatcan be included in certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of another embodiment of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider in which an otherelectromagnetic radiation beam is applied to the applied X-ray;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of another embodiment of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider including a collimatoror scanning shield portion;

FIGS. 12 a and 12 b are a diagram illustrating motion of certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider such as may occur during certain types ofvolumetric visualization, imaging, or information providing;

FIG. 13 shows a flow chart of one embodiment of visualization, imaging,or information providing, such as may occur using certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provideras described with respect to FIGS. 12 a and 12 b;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of an embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider configured to visualize,image, and/or provide information from at least a surface of anindividual;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider configured to visualize,image, and/or provide information within a volume from a firstprescribed depth to a second prescribed depth;

FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 17 shows yet another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 18 shows a diagram of an at least the portion of an individual(e.g., human) being visualized, imaged, or image provided by oneembodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider;

FIG. 19 shows a block diagram of a Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing process using theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider suchas described with respect to FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a diagram of the at least the portion of the individual beingvisualized, imaged, or image provided by another embodiment of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 21 shows a block diagram of another Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing process using theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider suchas described with respect to FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a diagram of an embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider as used by a dentist;

FIG. 23 is a diagram of an internal embodiment (e.g., endoscope-based)of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider;

FIG. 24 is a partial cross-section of certain skin and subsurface layersof an individual (e.g., human) that can be visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided;

FIG. 25 is a partial cross-section of certain skin and subsurface layersof the individual including a skin aberration (e.g., a melanoma);

FIG. 26 shows another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider including an embodiment ofan at least one display portion configured as a personal display orinformation provider portion;

FIG. 27 shows one embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider including an embodiment of the at leastone display portion configured as a group display or informationprovider portion;

FIG. 28 shows a flexible embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 29 shows an embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider that can be positioned by the user;

FIG. 30 shows another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 31 shows yet another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 32 shows one animal-based embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 33 shows another animal-based embodiment of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider;

FIG. 34 shows one embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider in which the at least one emitterportion is situated at least partially externally to the at least theportion of the individual while the at least one Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly is situated at least partially externally to the atleast the portion of the individual;

FIG. 35 shows one embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider in which the at least one emitterportion is situated at least partially internally to the at least theportion of the individual while the at least one Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly is situated at least partially externally to the atleast the portion of the individual;

FIG. 36 shows one embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider in which the at least one emitterportion is situated at least partially externally to the at least theportion of the individual while the at least one Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly is situated at least partially internally to the atleast the portion of the individual;

FIG. 37 shows one embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider in which the at least one emitterportion is situated at least partially internally to the at least theportion of the individual while the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly is situated at least partially internally to the at least theportion of the individual;

FIG. 38 shows another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly that is configured to output information;

FIG. 39 shows another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly that is associated with a tool;

FIG. 40 shows one embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider that is being utilized for imagecombination;

FIG. 41 shows a diagram of one embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider that is configured toprovide a time of flight measurement;

FIG. 42 shows another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider including an embodiment of acontrol or adjustment mechanism;

FIG. 43 shows another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider including another embodimentof the control or adjustment mechanism;

FIG. 44 shows another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider including yet anotherembodiment of the control or adjustment mechanism;

FIG. 45 shows another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider including another embodimentof the control or adjustment mechanism;

FIG. 46 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a tomographic-type Comptondepth scattering visualizing, imaging, of information providingtechnique as can be performed by certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider of FIG. 1,and other locations through this disclosure; and

FIG. 47 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a material characteristicdistribution function-type Compton depth scattering visualizing,imaging, of information providing technique as can be performed bycertain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider of FIG. 1, and other locations through thisdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At least certain portions of the text of this disclosure (includingclaims, detailed description, and/or drawings as set forth herein) cansupport various different claim groupings and/or various differentapplications. Although, for sake of convenience and understanding, thedetailed description can include section headings that generally trackvarious different concepts associated with claims or general conceptscontained therein, and the detailed description is not intended to limitthe scope of the invention as set forth by each particular claim. It isto be understood that support for the various applications or portionsthereof thereby, can appear throughout the text and/or drawings at oneor more locations, irrespective of the section headings.

1. CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF A COMPTON SCATTERED X-RAY VISUALIZER, IMAGER,OR INFORMATION PROVIDER; AND ASSOCIATED VISUALIZATION, IMAGING, ORINFORMATION PROVIDING TECHNIQUES

This disclosure describes a number of applications, a variety ofembodiments, as well as associated techniques, pertaining to differentembodiments of a Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described in block form with respect toFIG. 1. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as described in this disclosure,can visualize, image, and/or provide information pertaining to a varietyof matter of at least a portion of an individual. Certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can be configured to visualize, image, or provide informationpertaining to the matter of the at least the portion of the individualwithin at least one range of visualization, imaging, or informationproviding depth to at least one prescribed visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth 170.

The visualization, imaging, or information providing may result incertain instances in an application of at least one applied X-ray acrossat least one surface (or some other location such as with embodimentsembedded in matter, tissue, etc.). Such scattered X-rays can bescattered at one or more scattering event within an at least onesubstantially scattered depth range to at least one prescribedsubstantially scattered depth. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canoperate within the at least one range of visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth to the at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth 170 within the atleast one matter of the at least the portion of the individual. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can visualize, image, and/or provideinformation within a region or volume extending between at least twoprescribed visualization, imaging, or information providing depths 170.Each region or volume can be being spaced a range of depths or distancesfrom a surface 168 (or location of the at least a part of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100) of theat least the portion of the individual. The region or volume can be ofsome selected thickness, which when made thinner may approach atwo-dimensional surface.

Certain of the “range of depths to a prescribed depth” as described inthis disclosure are characterized either by the at least one range ofvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth to at least oneprescribed visualization, imaging, or information providing depth, oralternately the at least one substantially scattered depth range to atleast one prescribed substantially scattered depth. The at least onerange of visualization, imaging, or information providing depth to atleast one prescribed visualization, imaging, or information providingdepth pertains to the region of the matter of the at least the portionof the individual that is undergoing visualization, imaging, orinformation providing. The at least one substantially scattered depthrange to at least one prescribed substantially scattered depth pertainsto the region of the matter of the at least portion of the individual towhich the applied X-rays are being applied substantially down to theprescribed substantially scattered depth (as well as a potential varietyof ranges of substantially scattered depth).

Certain X-ray photons of the applied X-rays can continue deeper into thematter of the at least the portion of the individual then thesubstantially scattered depth range to the prescribed substantiallyscattered depth and may thereupon be scattered. The visualized, imaged,or information provided regions within the at least some matter of theat least the portion of the individual can dimensionally varyconsiderably in different embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as well as differentindividuals, or portions thereof. For instance, such range of depths ofthe prescribed depths can vary from an infinitesimal dimension, througha few to hundreds of microns, to a considerable amount of the distancethrough such individuals as humans or animals depending onconfiguration, type, use, or matter being imaged by the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

The quality, resolution, potential applications, and/or accuracy, ofvisualization, imaging, or information providing can vary, in differentembodiments, varying from probes using one or more emitter portion(s)150 and/or one or more Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151.The variation of the quality, resolution, potential applications, and/oraccuracy, of visualization, imaging, or information providing cancontinue to visualizers including one or more emitter portion(s) 150and/or the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can be used toobtain some depth information about at least some matter in the at leastthe portion of the individual. The variation of the quality, resolution,potential applications, and/or accuracy, of visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can further continue to sophisticated imagingsystems allowing for detailed visualization, imaging, or informationproviding.

Within this disclosure, including the appended claims, the terms“imaging”, “visualization”, “probing”, and/or “information providing”can, depending context, be considered as being included within theinclusive term “visualization, imaging, or information providing”.Within this disclosure, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151 could be at least partially internal to theindividual, at least partially external to the individual, configured asa complete unit, and/or configured as a number of combined units atleast some of which may interact together.

Certain embodiments of the one or more emitter portion(s) 150 and/or theone or more Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can beconfigured as discrete units, arrays of distinct devices, or alternatelyas arrays of composite devices made using such processes assemiconductor processing, very large scale integration (VLSI), ultralarge scale integration (ULSI), and/or other known semiconductor orother manufacturing processes. The depth visualization, imaging, orinformation processing associated with the one or more emitterportion(s) 150 and/or one or more Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 should be selected to be suitable for operation of theparticular device(s), as well as the potential user input.

The associated visualizing, imaging, information providing, and/orprocessing technologies can therefore be designed, used, and/or scaledbased, at least in part, on the sophistication and complexity of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100performing the visualization, imaging, or information providing. Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing can beperformed by a variety of either at least partially internalembodiments, and/or at least partially external embodiments. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described in the disclosure, can be atleast partially generalized to, and generally at least partially operateaccording to, the disclosure as described with respect to the FIG. 1block diagram.

For a variety of reasons, in general, certain conventional types ofvisualization, imaging, or information providing can perform certainactivities of types of diagnosis better or worse than others. Thisdisclosure describes a number of embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that may each beconfigured for visualization, imaging, or information providing such asto detect particular illnesses, injuries, cancers, tumors, boneconditions, teeth, implants, etc. in either a devoted or multi-purposemanner. The FIG. 1 embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, shown in block diagram format, canbe applied to a variety of configurations as well as applications, etc.

FIG. 2 shows, in general, a scattering event associated with an X-rayphoton of an applied X-ray 120 contacting a target electron 120 (thetarget electron may be included in the “matter” of the individual asdescribed in this disclosure) to form the X-ray photon of a scatteredX-ray 122. The X-ray photons of the applied X-ray 120 generally loseenergy during its transition to the scattered X-ray 122, as a result ofthe energy transferred/used by scattering within the scattering event.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can thereby include, but is not limited to,the at least one emitter portion 150 as well as the at least one Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can visualize, image,and/or provide information which can thereupon be analyzed, displayed,computed, and/or processed, etc. Certain embodiments of the at least oneCompton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can include, but is notlimited to, at least one detector portion 152 and/or the at least onedisplay portion 154. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider may allow the visualization,image, or information provided to be captured and/or combined based atleast partially on: deconvolution, transform (e.g., integral transform,inverse Fourier transform, inverse FFT, etc.), image subtraction,weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, weighted subtraction,functional subtraction, inverse integral transform, subtractive inverseintegral transform, inverse functional transform, and subtractiveinverse functional transform, or other such processes or computations.Such visualization, imaging, or information providing may occur eitheron a one time, multiple times, repetitive, continuous, or other similarbasis, perhaps in an as-programmed, user controlled, as-desired, orother suitable manner.

Within this disclosure, deconvolution techniques can be used to limit orreduce the obscuring effect(s) of depth of matter, tissue, X-ray opaquematter, noise, etc. as applied to cloud desired images, etc. As such,deconvolution can be used to clarify the visualization(s), image(s),and/or provided information. Deconvolution techniques and technologiesare well established and understood, and have been in use in certaintechnological areas since prior to World War II. Deconvolution isconventionally used in image processing, signal processing, and othercomputer-based imaging techniques. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canutilize deconvolution, transforms, and other distortion diminishingtechniques. Such distortion diminishing techniques may be used to limitdistorting effects resulting at least partially from, for example: X-rayopaque matter, obscuring matter, signal noise, etc. such as to identifyor visualize aircraft hidden in clouds, limit signals and/or images innoisy backgrounds, etc. Other such distortion-limiting image processingtechniques may be applied, where appropriate, in a manner as would beobvious to one skilled in the art.

The “matter” of the human or animal individuals can, depending uponcontext include, but is not limited to: tissue, flesh, muscle, opticallyopaque tissue, organ(s), bone(s), bone part(s), hair, bone fragment(s),implant(s), fat, blood vessel(s), blood capillary(s), skin(s), teeth,epidermis, dermis, brain, tumors, cysts, contrast agents such asiodinated contrast agents, gadolinium, certain fluid(s), blood or bloodcomponent(s), CSF, irrigant, IV fluids, water, aqueous solutions,implant materials such as ceramic, steel, titanium, nitinol, etc. Plantand organism embodiments can include such matter (naturally occurring orman-made or applied) that can be imaged, depending on the structureand/or location being imaged as a portion of, and/or associated with,the plant or organism.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can achieve relatively high resolution oftheir depth visualizations, images, and/or information provided. Assuch, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured such that thematter of the at least the portion of the individual can be inclusivelyimaged as at least a portion of the individual 82. Certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can depth visualization, image, and/or provide informationrelating to a considerable number of distinct types of matter ascompared with, for example, certain conventional X-ray techniques.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can thereby visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to such matter of the at least the portion of theindividual as such tissue as flesh, tissue, muscle, fat, fluid (blood,lymph, spinal fluid, etc.) in a controllable and/or adjustable manner.In this manner, an initial depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding can be performed of a region, and upon locating areas ofinterest, the Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can be filtered, processed, analyzed, compared,transformed, adjusted, magnified, angled, etc. as described in thisdisclosure to visualize, image, and/or provide information relating todesired regions.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be used to visualize, image, and/orprovide information relating to the spine of humans or animals, such asmay be the case with certain spinal surgeons. Such depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing of spine (as well as associatedplates, pins, blood vessels, muscles, etc.) can be performed prior to,during, and/or following surgery; and can provide imaging, visualizing,or provide information of appropriate or desired quality depending onthe desired purpose, equipment, condition, or application. Such Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingfollowing surgery can be provided at one or more suitable angles, suchas to illustrate interaction with plates, pins, constructs, etc.relative to the spine, associated nerves, bones, and associated pins,constructs, etc. Those embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that are configured toimage the matter, spine, bones, tissue, implants, etc. should beconfigured based on the desired depth imaging, depth visualizing, and/orexamination, and may be adjusted and/or controlled, perhaps on a nearreal time basis.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 as described with respect to the figures,and at other locations through this disclosure, primarily pertain todisplays that can display visualizations and/or images over variousembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Bycomparison, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described withrespect to FIG. 38 and at other locations through this disclosure,primarily pertain to displays that can display information in such aform as text, data, graphs, or other processed information, or acombination or modification thereof, etc. More particularly, FIG. 38illustrates an example of text, data, etc. being presented in othernon-image or non-visualization form. The various embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,as described in this disclosure, can also include a graphical userinterface, buttons, switches, or other mechanism to allow a user orindividual to provide input as to the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing as desired, suitable, and/or designed. As such,within this disclosure, each of the terms “visualize”, “image”, or“provide information” is, depending on context, intended to be inclusiveof each of these terms.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured for a variety ofparticular applications. The user of certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 mayselect a particular aspect such as quality, refresh rate, real-timeaspects, resolution, color, etc. based on the particular task at hand.For example, a doctor examining a patient's external skin may obtain oneor more visualizations, images, or provided information, or may treatcertain surface aberrations using certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Also, asurgeon/user who is using certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that may beattached, integrated, or otherwise secured to a surgical tool which canbe used in such procedures as cutting, separating, ablating, deforming,processing, tactile feedback providing, adding material, removingmaterial, or otherwise handling matter such as tissue, bone, fluid,blood, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 may be satisfied with relatively variousquality depth visualizations or images that can range from very detailedor excellent images to relatively sketchy images. Detailed images, forexample, can provide an excellent representation of the matter of the atleast the portion of the individual. Relatively sketchy visualizationscan be adequate to indicate a relative position of a desired visualizeditem such as a blood vessel, bone, portion, nerve, construct, etc.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be provided at a refresh rate sufficientrate to operate as desired, or operate a tool in combination as desiredwithout contacting blood vessels, nerves, or other matter to beprotected within the individual, for example. As such, certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be associated with a variety of tools, andcan be used to assist in deforming, separating, distorting, guiding,cutting, avoiding, and other such embodiments of the tools.

Certain tools that can be associated with, or operatively coupled to,certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can provide tactile feedback to a user. Suchtactile feedback providing tool can be used particularly in combinationwith certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, such as to allow the user to “feel”or “touch” the various regions of the individual for treatment orexamination purposes (even if only remotely while similarly observingthe region). While tactile feedback mechanisms may not be shown in thefigures; this is generally understood by those skilled in the robotics,automation, surgical, and other such arts or technical areas. Certainorthopedic surgeons, etc., who are interested in general positions ofsuch particular matter as bones, organs, etc. may be satisfied withdepth visualizations and/or images that have limited resolution or imagequality. As such, certain embodiments of the tactile feedback providermay be considered as “tools” within certain meanings and/or certaincontexts as applied within this disclosure. Additionally, certain usersmay select to use certain scintillator or fluoroscope embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

A user may desire to use certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to image,visualize, image, and/or provide information at a considerable depthinto tissue, and/or obtain depth visualizations or images that may havea high resolution or quality. Certain visualizations or images that canbe produced by certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be of similarquality of MRI, CAT Scans, PET scans, etc. Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be performed relatively quickly as compared with conventionalimaging modalities, such as in certain instances to be applied on anear-real time basis. The user may thereupon select to use certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that rely upon consider image processing toachieve suitable visualization, imaging, or information providingquality, as described in this disclosure. As such, the user can selectone or more suitable embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider based, at least in part, onthe particular task at hand.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be applied from a variety of embodimentsof mechanisms that can be configured to provide visualization, imaging,or information providing structures, including depending on context, butnot limited to: platforms, tables, hand-held, endoscopes, attached to orintegrated within a tool, etc. Within this disclosure, the descriptionof the particular visualization, imaging, or information providingstructure being used is intended to be illustrative in nature but notlimiting in scope. As such, it is intended that a description of anembodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 being applied to a particular visualization,imaging, or information providing structure may be applied to othervisualization, imaging, or information providing structures, whileremaining within the scope of the present disclosure, depending oncontext.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can utilize results from scattering eventsto determine the amount of energy loss and/or change in direction of theX-ray photons resulting from contact (or close interaction) withelectrons, neutrons, protons, or other portions of atoms and/or matter.The energy level variation (almost always a loss as a result ofconservation of energy principles) of the X-ray photons of the appliedX-ray 120 that, upon the scattering event, becomes the scattered X-ray122, and the scattered energy level can be used to derive the energytransfer based on Compton equations as described with respect to FIG. 2.The scattering angle of the scattered X-ray resulting from thescattering event, and position of the scattering event, can be derivedbased upon a combination of: a) the initial energy level and trajectoryof the applied X-ray, b) the detected position of the Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151, c) the scattered energy level of thescattered X-ray 122, and d) the energy loss resulting at least partiallyfrom the scattering event. The scattering angle and position of thescattering events can to be determined based at least partially on theCompton scattered X-ray equations used herein, as well as geometricequations. By compiling a large number of scattering angles andpositions of scattering events by one or more of the Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151, an image can be derived having acontinuously improving image quality.

Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingcan be performed using a variety of mechanisms and involving a varietyof techniques. Determination of the depth within matter of the at leastthe at least the portion of the individual that is being visualized,imaged, and/or information provided, can be at least partially derivedinvolving analytical determination, computation as well as numericalcalculation such as can be performed by computers and/or controllers; oralternately can involve experimentation or analysis. Certain aspects ofvisualization, imaging, or information providing can be based on suchfactors as each particular matter being visualized, imaged, orinformation provided, the energy level and/or frequency of the X-rayphotons of the applied X-ray 120 and/or scattered X-ray 122, and/orother such factors. Certain versions of such visualization, imaging, orinformation providing that rely on tomography may result from generatinga series or number of relatively thin slices, that by being relativelythin can enhance visualizing, imaging, or image providing consistency orhomogeneity across each slice.

Consistency of the matter being visualized are imaged across thethickness can thereby improve imaging quality, especially in thedirection parallel to a direction at which the visualization, imaging,or image providing be being performed (e.g., through the thickness ofthe visualizing, imaging, or information providing axis slice).Similarly, imaging quality may diminish in certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100as the matter becomes more heterogeneous across the thickness of theimaging slice. Such visualization, imaging, or information providing maybe taken in a straight, curved, complex, or some other desired orsuitable or desired shape.

Certain techniques similar to those that provide slices, such as used inconventional tomography imaging techniques, can also be applied tocertain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100. Certain embodiments of the slices as can beutilized during visualization, imaging, and image providing by theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be arranged in a straight, curved, complex, or some other desired orsuitable or desired shape. Combining a number of the slices, which maybe considered as a three dimensional region of visualizing, imaging, orinformation provider having a limited thickness that can be imaged bythe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100, can produce a thicker image of the particular matter. Thisdisclosure initially describes a variety of techniques for such Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing.

Certain embodiments of visualization, imaging, or information providingcan be used to visualize, image, or provide information within the atleast one visualization, imaging, or information providing depth rangeto the at least one prescribed visualization, imaging, or informationproviding depth (e.g., from a surface, or alternately spaced from thesurface). The actual or maximum at least one visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth range to the at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth being visualized,imaged, or information provided may vary between different embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, and may be based on particulars of the scattered X-raydepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing; the matterundergoing depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing; as wellas the processor characteristics and operation of the visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97. Some of the X-rayphotons of the applied X-ray scatter to provide the scattering eventwherein the scattered X-ray may scatter at a depth greater than the atleast one substantially scattered depth range to the at least oneprescribed substantially scattered depth.

Based on the energy level of the X-ray photons of the applied X-rays,the number of applied X-rays with the scattering event occurring at therange of depths greater than the at least one substantially scattereddepth range to the at least one prescribed substantially scattered depthcan, for certain visualization, imaging, or image providing, can beassumed to be ignored either computationally, be effectively filteredout, limited by weighting techniques, or removed using image processingtechniques; or even accepted. Certain visualizations, images, orprovided information can be provided even by ignoring a limitedpercentage of deeper scattered X-rays. Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be configured to limit the effects of the X-ray photons of theCompton scattered X-rays 120 that are returning from the scatteringevent occurring through greater depths than the at least onesubstantially scatted depth range to the at least one prescribedsubstantially scattered depth 170. Additionally, certain of the depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing effects of these X-rayphotons of the Compton scattered X-rays 120, that scatter at the rangeof scattering depths greater than the at least one substantiallyscattered depth range to the at least one prescribed substantiallyscattered depth, can be included with at least some of the distortingeffects either ignored, filtered, and/or otherwise limited using imageprocessing techniques, deconvolution, and other techniques.

Another embodiment of Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can control or adjust the depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing at least partially by increasing, suchas by ramping up, the energy of the photons of the applied X-rays. Bychanging the energy level or frequency of the X-ray photons of theapplied X-ray 120, the effective range of visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing depth to the prescribed visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing depth into the matter of the at least the portionof the individual can change. As such, the energy level and/or frequencyof at least some of the X-ray photons of the applied X-rays that arebeing used to visualize, image, and/or provide information can be tunedas to effect variation in depth of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing.

Within this disclosure, the term “individual” can, depending on context,pertain to a person, animal, plant, organism, of whom at least a portionthereof is being imaged and/or examined by the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. The term “user” can,depending on context, pertain to those persons using and/or operatingcertain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, such as, but not limited to: doctors,physicians, dentists, veterinarians, researchers, assistants,technicians, researchers, persons performing medical forensics and/orautopsies, users, and/or other persons, assistants to, derivatives from,etc. who can view or utilize the visualized, imaged, or informationprovided portion of the individual using certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

Within this disclosure, the term “user” can also include, in addition tothe human users as described above: computers, automated systems,controllers, robotic devices, other devices etc. that can be used toautomate visualization, imaging, providing information, inspection, oranalyzing of certain depth image information as output by certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. Consider, for example, that certain depthimage information can be more readily utilized or processed by computersbased on computer-vision, machine based imaging, machine vision,machine-based devices, etc. to determine certain aspects thereof. Forexample, certain computer-based embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that are beingassociated with surgical tools might be adapted to quantitativelydetermine or interpret the relative depth of certain blood vessels,nerves, etc. Such visualization, imaging, or information providing maybe effective in the vicinity of non-homogenous matter, for certainembodiments.

Certain computer-based or machine based embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider may provequite effective at visualizing, imaging, information providing, orotherwise analyzing through particular X-ray opaque matter (perhaps atleast partially relying on deconvolution, transforms, or other suchtechniques to limit the obscuring effects). Such techniques mayaccomplish such tasks as determining depths of cancer, tumors, bones, orother matter within the individual, and may thereby limit, reduce, ordouble-check the human scanning over large regions of the individual hasbe performed. Certain computer based embodiments, (or even human-visionembodiments) of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured in home-test form, emergencyform, task-specific form, relatively low power form, or even in a formthat can be used without the assistance of a skilled user. As such,within this disclosure, in certain instances, particularly with certainsimplified or devoted embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, the term “user” canalso include the individual, the individual's family or friend'sthereof, and/or care providers for the individual who can assist inoperating certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider for the individual. Certain suchhome-test embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider might preferably be used for one, or a few,devoted purposes such as, but not limited to: mammograms, cancer ortumor screening, blood flow, tissue aberrations, possible bone break ortissue tear, etc., as described in this disclosure.

Certain computer vision based embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured tomodel certain matter aberrations within the at least the portion of theindividual perhaps using, or without, deconvolution, transform, or othersuch techniques. Certain computer vision based embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider mayprove superior to certain human-vision embodiments in determiningextent, dimensions, degrees, etc. of certain aberrations, such asmelanomas, tumors, cancers, bone growth, etc., the scattered X-rays byusing mapping techniques such as are commonly used in tomography, MRI,and other conventional imaging techniques.

Within this disclosure, Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing can, depending on context, pertain to depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing of a volume of matterthat can have an arbitrary thickness depending on the desiredvisualization, imaging, or information providing application, but may beconsidered to be three dimensional. The three dimensional volume (havingsome thickness) being visualized, imaged, or information provided can beat least partially separated from an internal or external surface suchas external skin or membrane, internal lumen, etc. Certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be positioned at regions adjacent the surface 168 toprovide some location that can be used to relatively position tovisualize, image, and/or provide information relating to portions of theindividual. The surface 168 of the individual can provide some locationat which certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be positioned, angled, moved, orotherwise displaced to enhance the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing. As such, in certain instances, proximate oradjacent the surface can provide a good location from which tovisualize, image, or provide information.

As described with respect to FIG. 1, as well as at other locations inthis disclosure, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can include, but are notlimited to, at least one emitter portion 150 and/or at least one Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Certain embodiments of the atleast one emitter portion 150 can be configured to emit or direct atleast some applied X-rays 120 toward the at least the portion of theindividual 82. Certain embodiments of the at least one emitter portion150 can be adjustable and/or controllable such as to be able torespectively control and/or adjust generation and/or direction of theapplied X-rays being applied to the at least some matter of the at leastthe portion of the individual. At least some of the applied X-rays arethereupon scattered within the scattering event to form the scatteredX-rays, which can thereupon be received by the at least one Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Certain embodiments of the atleast one emitter portion 150 can be used to adjust or control the atleast one visualizing, imaging, or information providing within the atleast one visualization, imaging, or information providing depth rangeto the at least one prescribed visualization, imaging, or informationproviding depth of certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Within this disclosure,the applied X-ray 120 or the scattered X-ray 122 can include (e.g.,comprise) a number of X-ray photons whose characteristic energy leveland/or frequency can dictate the characteristics of the X-ray beams.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 can be configured to detect at least some Compton scattered X-rays122 being Compton scattered from the at least the portion of theindividual 82. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151 can operate based, at least in part, by receivingscattered X-rays 122 from a first Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 scattered of scattering of eventsfrom applied X-rays 120 that were generated by a different Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 arecontrollable and/or adjustable such as to be able to respectivelycontrol and/or adjust the characteristics of the at least some Comptonscattered X-rays 122 that can be detected. Certain embodiments of the atleast one Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can include,but is not limited to, each, or any combination of the at least onedetector portion 152 and/or the at least one display portion 154.

The operation of certain embodiments of emitter portion 150 and/or theCompton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 may be at least partiallycontrolled or adjusted utilizing at least partially by thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97, asdescribed in this disclosure (although certain embodiments utilizerelatively little or no control and/or adjustment). Certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can visualize,image, and/or provide information relating to the at least the portionof the individual 82 based, at least in part, on detecting the Comptonscattered X-rays 122 Compton scattered from the at least the portion ofthe individual. The structure and operation of certain illustrative, butnon-limiting, embodiments of each of the respective at least one emitterportion elements 150, at least one Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151, at least one detector portion elements 152, and/or atleast one display portion elements 154 are described in considerabledetail in this disclosure, including the specification, claims, and/orfigures.

The potential variety of visualization, imaging, or informationproviding, as described in this disclosure, can indicate the variety ofpotential embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 which can vary in complexity from relativelysimple probes to relatively complex systems. More complex systems caninclude arrays of a considerable number of the emitter portion(s) 150and/or a considerable number of the scattered X-ray receiving assemblies151. The different embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be arranged in avariety of suitable configurations. Certain embodiments of the scatteredX-ray receiving assemblies 151 can be used to determine a location ofscattering events based at least partially on the applied X-ray energylevel, position, and trajectory of the applied X-ray 120, as well as thescattered X-ray location and energy level of the scattered X-ray 122.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can, depending on context, be fabricatedusing a range of devices, systems, or fabrication techniques rangingfrom distinct components to semiconductor processing, and may involvesuitable image processing, hardware, and/or software, etc. to performsuitable image deconvolution, transforms, filtering, modulation, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 are configured to operate in associationwith at least one tool portion relative to, for example, at least somematter of the at least the portion of the individual. The particularcomponent and/or configuration selected may depend, at least in part, onthe application of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 and/or the associated tool. For instance,certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be associated with a particular tool,including but not limited to: a cutting tool, a scalpel, a gamma knife,a laser cutter, a tactile feedback provider, an ablator, a scope, aBovie electrocautery device, a material adding tool, a material removingtool, etc. such as to allow a user to search, image, or visualize withina particular region for a specific component, chemical, etc. as atool-based process is being performed. Such imaging, visualization, orinformation providing may be used relative to the location of bloodvessels, cancer, tumors, organs, etc. Alternately, certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be configured to detect, visualize, image, and/orprovide information relative to an area of potential interest, such as afield of surgical operation, within the at least the portion of theindividual in which at least the at least the portion of the individual.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 being configured to haveone or a few emitter portion(s) 150, as well as one or a few scatteredX-ray receiving assemblies 151. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 may utilize suitable X-raydetection such as depth subtraction or combination, time of flight,and/or scintillator (and/or fluoroscope) aspects, as described in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can operate, by at leastone of the emitter portion(s) 150 emitting the X-ray photons of theapplied X-rays 120. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can operate along aspecific direction or prescribed depth into the at least some matter ofthe at least the portion of the individual that can scatter upon thescattering events within the matter of the at least the portion of theindividual. Certain scintillator or other embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canutilize convolution or deconvolution, one or more transforms and/orinverse transforms, and/or other techniques to increase imaging qualityof visualizing, imaging, or information providing, etc. through X-rayopaque or other matter. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can provide animage deconvolution operation that can clarify between scattered X-raysreturning to the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 from anumber of separated, but closely aligned, scattering events.

A number of X-ray photons can be expected to scatter within the at leastone substantially scattered depth range to the at least one prescribedsubstantially scattered depth at least partially from the scatteredX-ray. The particulars of the at least one substantially scattered depthrange to the at least one prescribed substantially scattered depth willcorrespond, at least in part, on the energy level of the X-ray photons(which corresponds to the frequency of the X-ray photons of the appliedX-rays 120). It might be desirable to simplify at least certain of theembodiments or applications of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. Simplification might be for suchpurposes as to reduce expenses, simplifying image processing or systemcomputations, focusing on depth visualizing a single or a fewaberrations, such as melanomas, tumors, cancers, tissue edges, bloodpools, blood vessels, liquids, organ edges, tissue matter changedelineations, etc.

Certain of such embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to image aparticular material, element, chemical, fluid, fluid flow, solid, orother detectable aspect. For instance, certain of these embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can be attached to a probe, tool, cutter, tactile feedback provider,laser device, Bovie electrocautery, separator, visualizer, imager, etc.

Certain tool-based embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could be placed on theend of a probe that is inserted into the body. For example, as a probeor other tool passes through tissue (e.g., brain, heart, or other organor even flesh, muscle, etc.) an alarm that could be audio, video, orother can be set off which notifies the user that the probe is cominginto close proximity to a blood vessel or other sensitive location.Another example is this could be part of a drill (e.g., such as could beused to penetrate the pedicle of the spine or by a dentist), such as itcould notify the user if the drill tip is coming into too closeproximity to adjacent vital structures such as a nerve root, spinalcanal, or artery. Still another example is that this is attached to anelectrocautery instrument that will terminate current flow when theinstrument is passing too close to defined danger zones such as bloodvessel, nerve, vital organ structure, etc.

Certain surgeons operating in a manner to avoid blood vessels, nerves,etc. (while often necessary to keep their patient healthy and/or alive)can be slow and/or laborious in certain circumstances, and canconsiderably extend the duration of operations. The presence of bloodvessels, nerves, etc. in locations where surgeons may not clearly seevia their tools due to a skewering matter, tissue, bones, etc., can alsoresult in additional risks to the patients (e.g., individuals). Surgeonsattempting to operate too quickly can risk the likelihood of injury, oreven death, to their patients by contacting, severing, or rupturingtheir blood vessels, nerves, brain tissue, or other organ and/or matter.Allowing a surgeon to detect blood vessels, nerves, spinal portions,sensitive tissue, etc. can be utilized in an attempt to operate in, ornegotiate around, a sensitive matter or region without contacting thesensitive matter or region by, for example, visualizing, imaging,providing information, the sensitive matter or region. Such allowingsurgeons to effectively determine relative locations of tools, etc. tosensitive matter or regions could therefore be expected to increase therate at which surgeons might safely be able to operate while safelynegotiating past the sensitive matters or regions within the individual,as well as increasing the rate at which they can safely and accuratelyoperate.

If more than one emitter portion 150 are operating, then there should besome mechanism to limit confusion between the applied X-rays provided byeach emitter portion as detected by certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Such differentiation orcombination of scattered X-rays at each Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151 between the applied X-rays 120 being generated byeach of the emitter portions 151 can rely on, for example: altering thetransmission time, coding of the carrier signal, differentiating signalweightings, shifting frequency of the applied X-rays 120 between thedifferent ones of the applied X-rays, altering the energy levels of thephotons altering the pulse durations of the applied X-rays, etc. asdescribed in this disclosure. Otherwise differentiating each of theapplied X-rays 120, and/or the directing at least certain ones of theapplied X-rays 120 in a different direction along non-interferingdirections and sets of potential scattering events, such that thescattered X-rays returning from different scattering events can bedistinguished from each other each other. Such techniques similar todeconvolution, inverse transforms, time division multiplexing, frequencydivision multiplexing, code division multiplexing, etc. (which are knownto those skilled in the communications arts) can be utilized todistinguish between, or clarify, different applied X-rays being receivedby different emitter portion this 150, and thereby limit interference atthe at least one Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 betweenmultiple ones of the scattered X-rays scattered from differentscattering events.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can be configuredwith one or more of the emitter portions 150, as well as one or moreCompton scattered X-ray receiving assemblies 151 (similar to asdescribed with regards to FIG. 3 to that illustrates only one emitterportion). Multiple ones of the emitter portion 150 may, or may not be,arranged in a desirable associated relative configuration, such as atleast one array, conforming to the matter, etc. Certain embodiments ofthe emitter portions 150 can be configured to emit the applied X-rays120 (as well as the scattered X-rays 122) in a manner that can bedifferentiated from other ones (as well as other scattered X-rays 122)based at least partially on deconvolution, transforms, timemultiplexing, frequency multiplexing, code division multiplexing,directing of a variety of X-ray beams such as pencil beams, fan beams,etc. to a desired location, and/or other such scattering eventdifferentiating techniques, use of collimators, lenses, filters, etc.For example, certain embodiments of the multiple emitter portions 150can emit their applied X-ray at different deconvolution or transformcharacteristics at different times, having different frequencies, withdifferent weightings, or based on different coding algorithms such as isgenerally understood with a variety of multiplexing techniques. Certainsuch embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may be utilized as a visualizer having limitedresolution; and may provide especially useful in conjunction with a toolas to provide visualization, imaging, or information providing for bloodvessels, cancer, or other aberrations to visualization, imaging, orinformation providing as described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the one or more Compton scattered X-ray receivingassemblies 151 can include a streak camera, a pixellated streak camera,an avalanche detector, a CCD device, or other device that can detect thepresence, energy level, and/or condition of scattered X-rays, preferablyat a suitable rate to provide the desired resolution. Certainembodiments of the streak camera and/or the pixellated streak cameramight be configured to act quite quickly, and certain ones can functionin the low or fractional picosecond range, such as may be particularlyuseful for time of flight calculations.

Certain embodiments of Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can include one or more collimated (e.g.,“pencil”, “fan”, or other) beam of the applied X-rays 120, asillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Certain embodiments of these beams canscan the at least the portion of the individual in two directions whilethe one or more scattered X-ray receiving assemblies 151 can measure theCompton scattered X-rays resulting from the interactions of the primaryX-rays with the bodily tissues. A variety of depth visualizing and/orimaging information, particular to a given 3-D voxel within the displayof the one or more scattered X-ray receiving assemblies 151, can bederived using the two-dimensionally scanned X-ray beams, which can bedetected in several ways as described herein.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can utilize time-resolved detection of thescattered X-rays 122. Here, the time-of-return, Δt, of each scatteredX-ray from a scattering event corresponding uniquely to a position, x,along the illuminating collimated X-ray beam, such that:x=A*Δt+B  (1)

where A and B are proportionality constants determined by the relativelocation of the illuminating X-ray beam and the X-ray detector. Therecan be a sufficient temporal pause (or other time, spatial, or codingtechnique understood by those skilled in multiplexing) betweenillumination at specific 2-D ray angles to limit scattered signalconfusion between multiple ones of the scattered X-ray is received ateach Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. If determined to besignificant, the background from multiple scattered X-rays can bereduced by adding energy discrimination to the detector, since eachscattering event results in a reduction in X-ray photon energy levels.For example, energy is lost by the moving X-ray photon particle duringcollisions with other moving particles forming the matter of the atleast the portion of the individual, that can be described based onNewton's equation, Compton's equation, as well as other geometric orother equations, as described in this disclosure or elsewhere butgenerally known.

By scanning the body repeatedly in one, two, or three orthogonaldirections, but at varying energies so that the radiation penetratesprogressively more or less deeply so scattering events can occur up to aprogressively respectively deeper, or shallower, prescribed depth.Thereupon, a model (which may be three or two dimensional) of thesubcutaneous bodily structures can be progressively refined by comparingit to the time-integrated backscattered X-ray return from eachilluminating beam angle and then performing a de-convolution similar tothose used in tomography imaging. In addition to helping provide depthdiscrimination, such progressive illumination at different energies canreveal differences in the absorption and/or scattering characteristicsof various scattering events occurring in particular matter. The valueof the scattering characteristics of a scattering event can be anenhanced or diminished, in certain instances, by adding contrast agent,etc., such as to increase the contrast of the resulting image. Incertain instances, the energy level of the applied X-ray can beincreased, decreased, ramped, and/or otherwise altered (preferably in agradual and/or predictable manner as described elsewhere in thisdisclosure, such that changes in the energy level will have littleeffect on imaging distortion) such as to allow adjustability or controlof the visualizing, imaging, or information providing by certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to operate in somecontrolled combination of the techniques as described in thisdisclosure.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can therefore be configured to visualize,image, and/or provide information at least partially by employing anearly monochromatic illuminating X-ray “pencil” beam, flooding beam,fan-beam, scanning beam, or other such emitter portion 150. The locationof the scattering events along one or more of the beam of the appliedX-ray (in which, in certain instances, multiple ones thereof can beintersected to increase the intensity) can be determined where the X-rayphoton of the scattering X-ray scatters based on the unique relationbetween the change in its wavelength, Δλ, and its scattering angle, θ.For the usual case of the scattering events for each once-scatteredX-ray photon, the change in wavelength of the X-ray photon uponscattering is given by the Compton formula:Δλ=h(1−cos θ)/mc  (2)

where h is Planck's constant, m, the mass of the electron, and c, thespeed of light.

If necessary, time resolution, directional resolution, deconvolution, orother such image combination techniques can be added to at least certainof the approaches, as described in this disclosure, to assist insuppressing background noise or other distorted affects from scatteredX-rays emanating from scattering events. Such image combinationtechniques can include, but are not limited to, image subtraction, imagedifferentiation, image transformation, deconvolution, weightedsubtraction, functional subtraction, and group including inverseintegral transform, subtractive inverse integral transform, inversefunctional transform, and subtractive inverse functional transform, orother image processing techniques.

A number of other embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 are described, which can beconfigured to determine the location of scattering at least partiallybased on some characteristics of the scattered X-rays being received atthe Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. FIG. 5 illustratesan embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that are configured with one or more of theemitter portions 150, and/or one or more of the scattered X-rayreceiving assemblies 151. Consider that certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray receiving assemblies 151 can be configured withone or more of the emitter portions 150, as well as one or morescattered Compton scattered X-ray receiving assemblies 151. The one ormore emitter portion 150, as described with respect to FIG. 5, can beconfigured as a pencil beam emitter, a fan emitter, or other emitterthat can controllably direct the applied X-rays 120 as desired ordesigned in a particular path or direction and/or we associated X-rayphotons having a particular energy level. For example, if there are anumber of the one or more emitter portion(s) 150, then each one may beconfigured or designed to emit the X-rays along a controllabledirection, time, angle, depth, etc. such as to not interfere withothers.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured and/or designed such thatthe applied X-ray 120 of FIG. 5 can be directed along an emitted X-raypath 120′, that extends substantially continuously in a prescribeddirection. While FIG. 5 illustrates the applied X-ray 120 beingsubstantially perpendicular across the surface into the matter of the atleast the portion of the individual, some other angle can be providedwith the surface as well, and still comply with Compton equations asdescribed with respect to FIG. 2. At least one Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151 (illustrated in FIG. 5 as an array of receivingassemblies) is situated at an angle relative to the applied X-ray 120,and can thereby be configured to receive a variety of scattered X-rays122′, 122″, etc. that have been scattered at a variety of illustrativelocations 152′, 152″, etc. that have been scattered from a scatteringevent situated along the path of the applied X-ray 120. The location ofeach scattering events 152′, 152″ can be situated along the path of theapplied X-ray 120, can be determined based, at least in part, onscattering angle, θ₁ and θ₂, etc., the X-ray photons of the scatteredX-ray can exhibit at different energy level (corresponding to differentX-ray photon frequency). For example, the greater the scattering angle θ(such as θ₁ and θ₂ in FIG. 5), the greater the associated energy loss.As such, based on the energy level of the X-ray photon within thescattered X-ray 122, the scattering angle θ (such as θ₁ and θ₂ in FIG.5), as well as the scattering events location 152′, 152″, can be derivedutilizing equation 2, as described above. Various embodiments of variouscomputations, certain ones as described in this disclosure, can be usedto locate the position of the scattering events 152′, 152″, etc., can bederived based at least in part on deconvolution, transforms, etc. toprovide geometric visualization, imaging, or information providingtechniques, etc. a number of one, two, or three-dimensional arrays ofthe Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can be arranged toabout the applied X-ray 120, in a manner to enhance the determination ofthe position of the scattering events 152′, 152″. Such determination canbe based at least in part on the location of the multiple receivedarrays of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151.

The FIG. 5 embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 can be used to derive at least one position of the scattering event152 in which X-ray photons of the applied X-ray 120 is scattered such asby contact, or traveling close to: atoms, electrons, neutrons, or othersuch matter. The embodiment of the emitter portion 150 as described withrespect to FIG. 6 can be similar, or identical, to those embodiments asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 1 to 9, as well as other locations inthis disclosure. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151, as described with respect to FIG. 6, can includea slit collimator 172 or other such device that can limit the angle atwhich scattered X-rays can reach the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151. Certain embodiments of the collimator can also beconfigured as a lens, filter, correlator, or other device that can beused to limit passage of the scattered X-rays to the Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151 to only within a range of degrees, etc.Certain embodiments of the slit collimator, lens, filter, etc. could beprovided between the path of the applied X-ray 120′ and the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Those scattered X-rays beingapplied from the position of the scattering event of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 will only be detected if flowingin a direction substantially aligned with the slits of the slitcollimator. The structure and use of slit collimators, lenses, filters,etc. are generally understood by those skilled in the optics, X-ray,electromagnetics, and other similar areas; and will not be furtherdescribed in this disclosure. Alternate types of collimators, lenses,filters, etc. that can limit the passage of the scattered X-rays tothose within an angular range such as to detect scattering events withinthat angular range may also be utilized.

Only one slit is shown in the slit collimator 172 as illustrated in FIG.6. One or more of the slits of the slit collimator 172 can be arranged,such as to be aligned with only a particular element of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. While a single slit collimatoris described with respect to FIG. 6, it is to be understood thatmultiple slit collimators can be respectively associated with at leastone unit of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Inaddition, utilizing one or more of a variety of technologies that aregenerally understood, the scattered X-rays can be steered, beam formed,or otherwise directed in a manner as desired or appropriate. By usingthe embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 asdescribed with respect to FIG. 6, location of one or more scatteringevents occurring along one more applied X-rays 120 can be determined.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, as described with respect to FIG. 7, can beconfigured such that the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151can be steered or directed in a plane perpendicular to that of the whichthe Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly can sense the position ofthe scattering event. For example, the paths of the applied X-rays 120as shown in FIG. 2 are extending in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the paper, while in FIGS. 1, 3-6, etc. the path of theapplied X-ray 120 extend substantially within the plane of the paper.Certain ones of the scattering event detection, imaging, visualizing,and/or information providing mechanisms, as described above, may utilizesuch exemplary mechanisms to determine the position of the scatteringevent as: subtraction or combination, deconvolution, transforms, time offlight, scattering angle, loss of energy level of the X-ray photons ofthe scattering X-rays, geometric scattering computation, collimator,other derivatives, etc., and other locations through this disclosure.Each Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 as described withrespect to FIG. 7 includes a scanning shield portion 178, which can beconfigured to limit light passing to that within certain angular ranges.More specifically, provided that there are an array, or a number of, theapplied X-rays 120, then the scanning shield portion 178 can limitpassage of only one or a number of applied X-rays 120 at any one timeperiod. Certain embodiments of the scanning shield portion 178 and/orthe emitter portion(s) 150 can be dynamic, such as being rotatable; oralternately limit passage of only one or certain applied X-rays 120continuously if the scanning shield portion 178 and the emitterportion(s) 150 are fixed or static.

As such, certain embodiments of the at least one slit collimator 172, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 6, can be viewed as limiting scatteredX-rays 122 scattered from the applied X-ray 120, and passing to theCompton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 in a directionalsubstantially parallel to an axial direction of the applied X-ray 120.By comparison, certain embodiments of the scanning shield portion 178,as described with respect to FIG. 7, can be viewed as limiting scatteredX-rays 122 which have been scattered from the applied X-ray 120, andpassing to the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151, in adirectional substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of theapplied X-ray 120. Both the scanning shield portion 178 as describedwith respect to FIG. 7, and the slit collimator 172 as described withrespect to FIG. 6, can be viewed as embodiments of collimators, sincethey both limit passage of the scattered X-rays from scattering eventsthat are situated within an angular range to the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151. In addition, the material forming the housingmaterial (as compared to the slits which may be air, or some X-raytransmissive material) of the scanning shield portion 178 and the slitcollimator 172 should limit passage of X-rays there through, such as tolimit screened X-rays from being applied to the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151.

Within this disclosure, both the scanning shield portion 178 and theslit collimator 172 are intended to be illustrative in nature, but notlimiting in scope. It is envisioned that certain processes as performedby either the scanning shield portion 178 and/or the slit collimator 172could also be configured as a lens, a filter, a beamformer, or otherelectromagnetic or X-ray type mechanism, etc. As such, certainembodiments of the scanning shield portion 178 could limit passage ofthe scattered X-rays being applied to the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151 to within a range of angles, etc.

It is generally understood that with certain electromagnetic, optical,and/or X-ray technologies, certain operations can be performed utilizingtwo or more devices and/or their associated technique(s). Such devices,or technique, are often considered as equivalents, each of which is ableto perform the desired function, operation, or technique. As such,certain embodiments of the collimator 172, scanning shield portion 178,etc. can be performed either by the device as described herein, or othergenerally known electromagnetic, optical, or X-ray equivalent devicesand/or modifications thereof. Such generally equivalent devices areknown by those skilled in the art can be utilized, and are intended toremain within the scope of the present disclosure.

This disclosure thereby illustrates a number of exemplary mechanisms(and associated techniques of certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151) which can geometrically,computationally, or otherwise derive position of the scattering eventswithin some matter. Such deriving the positions of the scattering eventscan be based at least in part on characteristics of at least somescattered X-rays 122 (while assuming a static or predictable appliedX-ray).

Considering the embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 as described with respect to FIG.10, the at least one emitter portion 150 (as described with respect toFIG. 1) can at least partially utilize the applied X-ray 120 having itsenergy level that can be used to detect a position of the scatteringevent. Certain embodiments of the at least one emitter portion 150 candirect the applied X-ray 120 as to contact a contributing X-ray, beam,or other electromagnetic radiation beam 590 (which may include, but isnot limited to, another applied X-ray having a prescribed energy level)as described with respect to FIG. 10. Such a contributing X-ray canalter the intensity of the applied X-ray by allowing the applied X-ray120 to interfere (e.g., constructively or otherwise) with thecontributing X-ray, beam, or other electromagnetic radiation beam 590,to at least partially form in identifiable intersection point 592. Asevidenced by the enhanced scattered X-ray 122 that can be selectivelyviewed by certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151, the enhanced scattered X-ray will have an improvedillumination corresponding to the increased energy level, as comparedwith the corresponding scattered X-ray resulting either from eitherapplied X-ray 120 alone, or alternately the contributing X-ray, beam, orother electromagnetic radiation beam 590 alone.

Additionally, crossing or merging the applied X-ray 120 as to contact acontributing X-ray, beam, or other electromagnetic radiation beam 590can enhance the probability of the scattering event 152 occurring withinthe matter of the at least a portion of the individual within the pointof intersection 592. Increasing the probability of the scattering eventcan thereupon improve the visualizing, imaging, or information providingassociated with the location of the scattering event 152. Within thisembodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, the point of intersection 592 can therebycorrespond to the location of the scattering event 152. The enhancedillumination resulting from the point of intersection 592 can befiltered, amplified, and/or otherwise processed as to further ease indisplay, visualization, information providing, imaging, etc. Aconventional gamma knife (as generally understood in the medicaltechnologies) can represent a cutting or destructing tool by whichmultiple gamma rays intersect as to provide a region of increased orcombined energy, which can thereupon be detected in the form of astronger applied X-ray 122, as described in this disclosure.

FIG. 11, for example, illustrates an embodiment of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can be usedfor spatially confined imaging in which the output from the scatteringevent 152. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 are X-ray associated with a collimator 172 or 178, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 6 or 7 in this disclosure. As such,certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 will only be able to detect scattered X-rays scattering fromscattering events 152 that are within a spatially confined region. Assuch, certain embodiments of the emitter portion 150 can be configuredas pencil beams, fan beams, flooding beams, or as having other beamconfigurations. However, each applied X-ray provided by the emitterportion 150 could be directed within the spatially confined imagingregion (of the scattering event) such as to illuminate that regionsufficiently such that the scattered X-ray can be detected by theassociated Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151.

For the combination of any of the one or more emitter portion 150 andany of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assemblies 151 as describedin this disclosure, a variety of scattered X-ray, applied X-ray, matter,and other parameters can be determined that can be stored in a database,etc., and thereupon be used to derive the location of the position ofthe scattering events 152′, and/or 152″, etc. along the applied X-raypath 120′ as described with respect to FIG. 5 utilizing known geometric,material, X-ray, and other calculations. Since certain scattering of theapplied X-ray photons 120 can be intermitted at certain ones of theposition of the scattering events 152′, 152″, etc.; the visualization,imaging, or information providing parameters at the various positions ofthe scattering events can be intermittently obtained. As the X-rayphotons of the applied X-rays scatter at each position of the scatteringevent based on Compton scattered X-ray, the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing parameters of each position of the scatteringevent 152′, and/or 152″, such as can be used to image there from, andcan be determined.

The relative angle and/or position of the applied X-rays 120 can therebybe determined, derived, or computed based at least in part on the angleof the one or more emitter portion from each particular scattering eventlocation 152′, 152″, etc. The frequency (or the energy level whichcorresponds to the frequency) of the X-ray photons forming the appliedX-rays 120 can be determined based at least in part on the known ordetermined input frequency to the one or more emitter portion 150 (orthe measured output). The angle of the scattered X-ray photons beingreceived by the one or more Compton scattered X-ray receiving assemblies151 can be determined based at least in part on the original path of theapplied X-ray, as well as the scattered frequency of at least some ofthe X-ray photons of the scattered X-rays.

Certain visualization, imaging, or information providing techniques canrely of generation of image information or visualization informationthat can represent data or other form of information. Such data, text,information, etc. can be stored or maintained in a database storage,processed using understood image processing techniques, etc., such asdescribed with respect to certain embodiments of the visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 as described withrespect to FIG. 1.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can visualize, image, and/or provideinformation at least partially by making 2-D scans from different“vantage points” outside the body, detecting the time-integrated X-rayreturn signal from each 2-D X-ray/vantage-point combination, and doing atomography-like reconstruction of such as depth-related 3-D structure asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 12 a, 12 b, and 13.

FIGS. 12 a and 12 b illustrate two views of one embodiment of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100which can be configured to just and/or controlled in imaging perspectiveby which the angle of the scattered X-ray changes from 122 a, 122 b, 122c, as indicated by an arrow 127, can be used to image the portion of theindividual. During the visualization, imaging, and/or informationproviding, as described with respect to FIG. 12 a, a variety of imageinformation (similar in certain ways to conventional tumble graphicimaging or volumetric imaging techniques) can be derived. However, therecan also be a considerable amount of information that can be determinedbased upon the scattering of the applied X-rays from a certaindirection, or a limited range of directions. For example, a depth of thetissue aberration (or other tomography-type feature) 128 is largelyuncertain during the visualization, imaging, or information providing asdescribed with respect to FIG. 12 a as a result of the relativedirection in which the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151receives the scattered X-rays.

As the angle of the scattered X-ray continues to increases through anangle, as described with respect to FIG. 12 b as 122 d, 122 e, and 122f, the depth determination or extent of the feature 128 (usingvolumetric, tomographic, or other such techniques) can be improved asthe angle of the scattered X-ray continued to increase. As such, thedepth can be more readily and accurately be determined as the angle ofthe scattered X-ray increases from perpendicular. Such dimensions,extends, etc. of the features can be determined to more fully andaccurately map the visualization, image, or provided informationrelative to the matter of the at least a portion of the individual, suchas: tissue, tissue aberrations, organs, edge features, bones,constructs, inserts, bony portions, fluid or blood vessels, reservoirs,pooling, etc.

While the imaging perspective described with respect to FIGS. 12 a and12 b can be used to adjust or control the angle of the scattered X-raysrelative to matter of the least to portion of the individual, there canbe a variety of other imaging perspectives that can be similarlyadjusted, controlled, and/or otherwise utilized. For instance, the atleast in the portion of the individual could be moved relative to theapplied X-ray and/or the scattered X-ray. As the field of view of thevisualization, imaging, or information provided is zoomed, focused,filtered, transformed, or otherwise modified to provide other “new” or“modified” (e.g., and/or adjusted or controlled) information, such newor modified information can be added to the enhanced the model,visualization, image, or information; such new or modified informationcan be compared with the original information to provide a more accurateor detailed model, visualization, image, or information. The techniquesused for adjustment and/or control of the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing, certain ones of which are described relative toFIGS. 42 through 45, can be used to improve a quality of visualization,imaging, or information provided based on a variety of vantage points,and can be utilized for tomography or volumetric-type imaging.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can thereby be configured to providetomography visualization, imaging, or information providing. Thetomography provided would be expected to be similar to the tomographyprovided by other imaging mopdalities such as CAT scans, PET scans, andMRI, with the exception that certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider would imagematter to the prescribed imaging depth. Other embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, bycomparison, would be expected to image through the matter of the atleast some matter of the at least the portion of the individual.Additionally, the embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can generally utilize Comptonscattering, as compared to transmissive X-rays as with CAT scans,transmissive positrons as with PET scans, and magnetic fields as withMRI. Each imaging modality would therefore be expected to visualize,image, of provide information somewhat differently with potentiallysomewhat different output (either with or without the use of contrastagents).

FIG. 13 show a flowchart 1300 of one embodiment of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can beconfigured to provide a tomography-type and/or volumetric visualization,image, or information in a manner that includes illustrative, but notlimiting, processes 1302, 1304, 1306, and/or 1308. Process 1302 caninclude, but is not limited to, visualizing, imaging, or deriving atleast a first set of visualizations, images, or information. Forexample, certain visualization, image, or provided information (e.g.,relatively crude in certain instances) can be obtained using certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described in this disclosure. Process 1304can include, but is not limited to, controlling or adjusting the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 such asto visualize, image, or obtain “additional” information. Process 1306can include, but is not limited to, operating the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to capture, orotherwise obtain, the new information, such as to allow imaging from amodified vantage point. Process 1308 can include, but is not limited to,obtaining a more detailed or final visualization, image, or informationby tomographically or volumetrically integrating the additionalinformation. As such, viewing certain regions from differentperspectives, such as to limit unknowns and uncertainties in thevisualization, imaging, or provided information as the tomogreaphic-typeembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 change some aspect (e.g., energy level,direction, depth, etc) in a manner as to improve the quality of thevisualizing, imaging, or information providing.

Certain scintillation, time of flight, energy loss, and imagecombination type embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can generally provide theirfinal-quality visualization, image, or provided information based onprocessing of each interaction of the at least one emitter portion 150and its associated at least onhe Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151. By comparison, certain tomographic or volumetricembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 have a considerable number of unknownsfollowing each interaction of the at least one emitter portion 150 andits associated at least onhe Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151, wherein such unknowns are generally reduced or limited usingtomographic or volumetric techniques, in a similar manner as withconventional tomography, as generally understood in the medical imagingtechnologies.

Certain tomography or volumetric aspects of certain embodiments (oroutput) of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can therefore be quite similar in processingcharacteristics to those of conventional tomography imagers, such as CATscans, PET scans, etc. (such that they can result from generating anumber of two-dimensional slices). The slices are typically, but notnecessarily, planar. The slices can thereupon be combined to allowinformation of any three-dimensional volumetric image in a similarmanner as with conventional CAT scans, MRIs, etc. Depending upon thedesired configuration, a variety of shapes, Compton or otherconfigurations of slices can be generated. Within this disclosure,volumetric imaging may, depending upon context, be considered asincluding tomography. A description of conventional tomography orvolumetric imaging devices, etc., such as may be utilized forconventional medical visualizing, imaging, or information providing, aredescribed, for example, in X-ray 13 of “The Essential Physics of MedicalImaging, Second Edition”, J. T. Bushburg, et al., Lippincott Williamsand Wilkins, 2002 (incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).Such conventional tomography devices are commercially available and isnot described in greater detail.

Is the understood that certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may rely upon theadjustment and/or control to affect imaging of new matter of newdirections, locations, positions, energy levels, etc. Such adjustment orcontrol may be useful for tomography-type Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing.

Certain embodiments of the deconvolution and/or tomography processesnecessary to perform such operations can be considered ascomputationally similar to those used in normal X-ray CT scans, exceptthat scattered instead of transmitted X-rays are detected (instead ofthe X-rays being transmitted through the individual as is the case withconventional CT scans as compared with X-rays undergoing Comptonscattering as described in this disclosure).

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can visualize, image, and/or provideinformation at least partially by use of an angle-collimated X-raydetector such that the intersection of the illuminating beam anddetector sensitivity direction can define a unique 3-D voxel asdescribed with respect to FIG. 5. Such angle-collimated X-ray detectorscan be used to derive visualization, imaging, or information providinginformation in the one or more Compton scattered X-ray receivingassemblies 151. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can visualize, image,and/or provide information at least partially by combinations of theembodiments described elsewhere in this disclosure, that allowsvisualization, imaging, or information providing at higher resolutionand/or higher contrast information from the subcutaneous bodilystructures.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can control the depth to which it can imagebased, at least in part, on photons energy level of the applied X-ray asapplied to the matter of the at least the portion of the individual. Thegreater the energy level of the photons of the applied X-rays (andcorrespondingly the lesser the frequency of the photons of the appliedX-ray 120), generally the greater depth a larger percentage of theapplied X-ray can travel into the matter of the at least the portion ofthe individual, scatter, and return to effect Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing. As such, generally, alarger number of, or percentage of, X-ray photons having greater energylevels (and therefore correspondingly lower frequencies) can generallyvisualize, image, and/or information provide down to a greater at leastone visualization, imaging, or information providing depth range to theat least one prescribed visualization, imaging, or information providingdepth than X-ray photons having a generally lower energy level (andcorrespondingly higher frequencies). This generalization assumesconsistency of such factors as angle or position of applied X-rays,materials being imaged, etc. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, asdescribed in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 14, can facilitateCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingof a region of the scattering events extending from at least a surface168.

These embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 might be particularly useful for Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing for theat least the portion of the individual near the surface 168 of theindividual (the surface may be underneath and at least partiallyinternal surface or at least partially external surface). For example,certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, that can image from a surface to within theat least one depth range to the at least one prescribed depth, may besuitable for such Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing even without complex image processing. Suchvisualization, imaging, or information providing from different depthsmay not interfere with each other provided a relatively homogeneousmaterial across the visualization, imaging, or information providingdepth range. By comparison, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can visualize,image, or information provide one and relatively non-homogeneousmaterial across the at least one visualization, imaging, or informationproviding depth range provided suitable processing capability.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can visualize, image, or provide informationrelating to at least partially internal and/or at least partiallyexternal matter of the at least the portion of the individual utilizinga variety of Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing techniques. Such visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can be configured to provide for, for example:examinations, testing of cancer, sicknesses, injuries, tissueaberrations, etc. (such cancers and/or tumors can include, but are notlimited to, breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer,cervical cancer, etc.); as well as both internal or externalvisualizing, imaging, or information providing aberrations of certainmatter of the at least the portion of the individual (such as tissue,bone, dental, etc. or a combination); Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing lumen matter and matterexaminations; Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing edges, discontinuities, or matter inconsistenciesor aberrations of organs, tissue, or other matter; Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information allowing a variety of heartexamination and/or treatments, heart valve structure, operationexamination and/or treatments, brain examination and/or treatment, lungexamination, liver examination, other organ, matter, or tissueexamination and/or treatments etc. Within this disclosure, the term“depth” visualizing, imaging, or information providing can include, butis not limited to, depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingat least one volume of matter beneath the surface 168 of the at leastthe portion of the individual, perhaps including the surface 168 of theat least the portion of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to detect specificelements, or sets, combinations, alloys, and/or mixtures of specificelements, such as may be used to obtain signatures of pathological stateor tissue identity. While iron and calcium are mentioned in thisdisclosure as examples of elements that may be included in matter whichcan be used to enhance visualizations, imaging, and/or informationproviding; it may also be desirable or useful to detect other elementsor sets of elements. Depending on context, X-ray scattering signaturesof tissue (which may be considered to be one embodiment ofvisualization, imaging, or information providing information), may bevery helpful for a variety of diagnosis or examination purposes, forexample.

Another example of an element, which could be detected by certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, is zinc. Zinc can be used as anaturally-occurring indicator of certain types of pathological braintissue. For example, the elevated presence of zinc in the brain can beused to identify epileptic areas in hippocampus. As such, certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to detect particularelements, matter, combinations of matter, materials, metal, alloys,fluids, bones, etc., and as such may be particularly useful forvisualization, imaging, or information providing for certainapplications. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be controllableand/or adjustable such as to allow setting or adjusting for particularvisualization, imaging, or information providing applications.

Certain embodiments of such Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing from the surface 168 may be performedfrom within the at least one visualization, imaging, or informationproviding depth range to the at least one prescribed visualization,imaging, or information providing depth. Certain of the Comptonscattered X-rays returning to the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151, that scatter at scattering events from matter fromdifferent ones of the at least one substantial scattering range to theat least one scattering depth, may overlap and potentially interferewith scattered X-rays that have a contributed X-rays from differentscattering events. Such clarification between interfering scatteredX-rays resulting from different scattering events at different depths,and/or positions, etc., can limit confusion among image informationobtained from different scattering events at varying depths.

Assuming a relatively narrow visualization, imaging, or informationproviding depth range to the at least one prescribed visualization,imaging, or information providing depth based at least partially onscattering from scattering events. The overlap of X-rays Comptonscattered from different depths can be considered as originating from asingle one of the at least one substantial scattering range to the atleast one scattering depth, assuming the material is substantiallyhomogenous across the range of depths. The overlapped X-rays canthereupon be processed or treated as originating from the same location.For example, Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing of the skin, and/or some other relativelyhomogeneous matter, of a person may appear consistent, even if theCompton scattered X-rays scattering from within the at least onesubstantially scattered depth range to the at least one prescribedsubstantially scattering depth.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to visualize, image, orprovide information based at least partially on scattered X-rays beingscattered the slightly overlapped depths of scattering events, and canthereby reduce quality or uniformity of imaging or visualization. Forexample, consider the Compton scattered X-rays could be expected to beCompton scattered, down to similar scattering depths, within similartype matter within the person, assuming substantially homogeneous orconsistent matter down to the imaging depth. Certain types of Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing can beperformed as scanning, such as to screen for, or detect, aberrations ofthe matter (e.g., skin) such as cancers, lesions, tumors, moles, cuts,abrasions, etc. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly, which can be used to visualize, image, or provideinformation relating to a considerable variety of matter, such asregents made up of relatively thin matter that are selected to increasethe homogeneity of the region. By selecting or using the relatively thinimage region, the matter's homogeneity thereby generally increases tothereby provide improved visualization, imaging, or informationproviding. By using relatively thin image regions, which are thereforemore homogeneous, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may utilize such devicesas scintillators (and/or fluoroscopes, certain of which can includescintillators) which can directly convert scattered X-rays into viewableand/or visible light, as described in this disclosure. Within thisdisclosure, “viewable” light can, depending on context, be intended toinclude, but is not limited to, visible light such as is recognized asbeing viewable by most sighted humans, as well as at least certaininfra-red and ultra-violet light.

Within this disclosure, such conversion of X-ray photons byscintillators into viewable and/or visible light that may be viewed(directly or by subsequent processing) by certain users of embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100. By comparison, certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 may include a photodiode or otherphotodetector operably associated with the output of the scintillator(not shown, and considered as a portion of the scintillator) which canoutput to certain portions of the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly. As such, certain scintillator-based embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canprovide viewable and/or visible light directly to a user, or alternatelyoutput viewable and/or visible light that can be further analyzed,amplified, filtered, or otherwise processed such that could be viewed bythe user following the multiple steps such as by a machine,machine-based processor, optical processing device, etc. Certainscintillators, for example, could be operably coupled to photodiodes,whose outputs can be further analyzed.

Certain scintillator embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 being applied to certainrelatively thin organisms, plants, etc. may also visualize, image, orprovide information about the thickness of at least some matter of theat least certain portions of the individual using such techniques.Certain such scintillator (and/or fluoroscope) embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100may be operationally simpler, and therefore involve relatively littleprocessing as compared with other visualization, imaging, or informationproviding techniques by other (more processor-complex) embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100. The scintillator embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can create images based,at least in part, on the scattered X-rays 122 received by the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151; since the Compton scatteredX-rays being produced by the former are being converted directly intoviewable or visible light using scintillators (and/or fluoroscope-basedtechnology).

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, as described in this disclosure withrespect to FIGS. 15 and 16, can facilitate Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing between a first one ofthe at least one visualization, imaging, or information providing depthrange to the first one of the at least one prescribed visualization,imaging, or information providing depth from the surface 168. Suchvisualizing, imaging, or providing information can occur either from aninternal or external surface of the portion of the individual (or thefirst one of the at least one visualization, imaging, or informationproviding depth range to the first one of the at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth from the surface168) to a second one of the at least one visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth range to a second one of the at least oneprescribed visualization, imaging, or information providing depth fromthe surface.

Certain of such Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing techniques can be obtained at least partially bycombination (e.g., image differentiation, image subtraction, imagetransformation, deconvolution, weighted subtraction, functionalsubtraction, and group including inverse integral transform, subtractiveinverse integral transform, inverse functional transform, andsubtractive inverse functional transform, time of flight calculation, orother such computation or image processing techniques). With suchcombination of images, etc., multiple depth visualizations or images canbe obtained, in the form of depth visualization or image information,from Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding from the surface 168 down to multiple different depths 169,170, thereby imaging through a depth 172.

Certain occurrences of the depth visualizations, images, and/or providedinformation can thereupon be obtained from the shallower depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information value using imagecombining (such as by using image subtraction, image differentiation,image transformation, deconvolution, weighted subtraction, functionalsubtraction, and group including inverse integral transform, subtractiveinverse integral transform, inverse functional transform, andsubtractive inverse functional transform, or other such image processingor computational techniques), from between multiple depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information values. Todepth-image a relatively thick portion of the individual (e.g., a slicethat is thicker than can be depth imaged by itself with desiredresolution, image quality, etc.), a number of relatively thin imageslices can be imaged, and the number of images can thereupon be added,summed, or otherwise combined using a variety of appropriate imageprocessing techniques.

As described in this disclosure, the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing of slices can be performed by successive imagecombination, by which the information, data, value, etc. of theshallower image can be combined, subtracted, or otherwise transformedout from that of the thicker image for each successive image slice, toobtain image information of the particular image slice.

Such techniques can also be utilized by certain image combiningprocesses (e.g., image subtraction, image differentiation, imagetransformation, deconvolution, weighted subtraction, functionalsubtraction, and group including inverse integral transform, subtractiveinverse integral transform, inverse functional transform, andsubtractive inverse functional transform, time of flight techniques;scintillator [or fluoroscope] techniques, or other Compton-basedtechniques). The image slices can at least partially involve combiningrelatively thick portions of the individual, and can thereupon bedigitally, analog, or otherwise combined using combining imageprocessing techniques, and can be clarified such as to limit distortingaspects such as opaque X-ray matter, noise, etc, such as involvingdeconvolution, transforms, etc. Certain of the visualizations, images,and/or information can be maintained to form a model, which can berelied on for visualization, imaging, or information providing purposes.Alternately, a two-dimensional image slice having some thickness andeither a substantially planar or curvilinear surface (simple curve,complex curve, or other) can be visualized, imaged, or have informationprovided within the at least the portion of the individual at a locationnearby, or away from, the surface of the at least the portion of theindividual. For example, certain examples of visualization, imaging, orproviding information can occur with the at least one emitter beingpositioned adjacent the skin, within lumens, etc.

Alternately, time of the flight computations can be used to derivevisualization, imaging, or information providing information, asdescribed in this disclosure. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canvisualize or image a volume or portion extending between two of the atleast one visualization, imaging, or information providing depth rangesfrom the surface 168 can utilize time of flight computations (such asdescribed with respect to FIG. 17). Certain time of flight computationscan operate at least partially by determining a total distance from theemitter portion 150, to the particular scattering event of the at leastthe portion of the individual, and thereupon continue to the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Such distance can be determined,for example, by measuring the duration for X-rays to travel thatdistance. The distance can thereby be determined at least partiallybased on the combined temporal duration (time) of the travel by theapplied X-ray 120 and/or the scattered X-ray 122. Certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 of FIG. 17 can include a time of flight calculator 160 (which can beincluded in the visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 of FIG. 1), which can derive the time of flightduration(s), and thereupon compute the total time of flight distance(s).

Certain embodiments of time of flight computation such as can utilizethe time of flight calculator 160, as described with respect to FIG. 17,can involve generation of relatively brief pulses of the applied X-ray(e.g., X-ray photon radiation), which are directed by the at least oneemitter portion 150 towards the imaged region of the at least theportion of the individual. Thereupon, the X-rays forming the pulses orbursts of applied X-rays can be Compton scattered within the matter ofthe at least the portion of the individual at the scattering event, suchas can be detected by the at least one Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 following scattering of the brief pulse (also considered aform of time modulation). Time of flight calculations can be derivedbased, at least partially, on the time required for the applied X-raysto travel to and scatter at the scattering event (within the matter ofthe at least the portion of the individual), and thereupon have thescattered X-rays travel to the at least one Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151. Considering the total distance between the pointof Compton scattered X-ray at the scattering event and the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly, and thereupon the angle ofscattering and scattering event through which the X-rays travel throughthe at least the portion of the individual. The location of thescattering event within the matter of the at least a portion of theindividual can thereupon be determined relying on calculations based onthe speed of X-rays, their direction traveled, and thereupon theirdistance traveled (the speed of X-rays correspond to the speed tolight).

The total distance from the emitter portion 150, to the location of thescattering event, and thereupon to the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151, can thereby be used to derive the at least onevisualization, imaging, or information providing depth range to the atleast one prescribed visualization, imaging, or information providingdepth at least partially using time of flight calculations. With time offlight calculations, precision in the detected timing and measureddistance is important in accurately determining the location ofscattering within the matter. Therefore, certain embodiments of thedetector portions of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assemblyand/or emitter portions, as described with respect to FIG. 17, couldhave at least low picosecond range detection operational duration toprovide suitable accuracy. Such picosecond range detection operationalduration to provide suitable accuracy can be performed using, forexample, certain streak cameras, pixellated streak cameras, an avalanchedetector, CCD, or other detector embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151. Other embodiments of the detector portionscould operate with considerably longer signal detection duration ratewhile perhaps accepting reduced quality or resolution in visualization,imaging, or information providing.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can utilize a variety of controllers,computers, etc. (considered as a portion of the visualization, imaging,or information providing controller 97) as certain users such as toprovide a variety of automation and/or enhanced reliably of operation oranalysis. As such, with certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, a variety ofhuman or automated users can visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to the subsurface of the at least the portion ofthe individual 82 at certain typically controllable depths. Themechanism for Compton-type scattering are generally understood by thoseskilled with X-ray technology, and will not be described in greaterdetail except where suited to this particular disclosure.

With individuals such as humans and/or animals, for example, theexternal surface 168 can include such surfaces as skin, mucousmembranes, and other such external surfaces etc. Certain individualssuch as plants or organisms (living in the environment such as outside,living in humans, animals, plants, or other organisms, and/orhuman-designed or human created) can have at least one external surface168 that may come in contact with the external environment from whichmuch of the potential visualization, imaging, or information providingcould be performed. Examples of the external surface may include theouter layer of a leaf, a trunk, a stalk, a fruit, a root portion, avegetables, etc. It may not be necessary, in those embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,that are applied within the matter of the individual (such as viaincision, or other breach of the surface), to visualize, image, and/orprovide information at least partially through the surface.

Certain individuals, such as organisms, plants, or portions thereof, canbe visualized, imaged, or have information provided using certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 for such purposes as to determine health,internal structure, insect infestation, contamination, illness, etc.Certain types of individuals such as fruits, roots, or vegetables asproduced by plants can be visualized, imaged, or have informationprovided using certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 as to determinefreshness of the item, suitability of the item, insect infestation,disease, contamination, inconsistency from desired state, etc. Aforestry store or market (which may commercially sell certain meats,vegetables, fruits, plants, etc., for example) may utilize certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 such as to visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to meats, plants, vegetables, fruits, etc. todetermine their health, condition, etc. Such determination of thecondition can be applied either prior to purchase, following storage forsome duration, or prior to selling, etc. such visualization, imaging, orinformation providing of plants, organisms, troops, roots, etc. can bebased, at least in part, and changing X-ray scattering characteristicsas the matter rots, disintegrates, melts, distorts, ages, or otherwisechanges.

With such individuals as humans and/or animals, the term “internal” canpertain to those locations accessible through normally open openings(e.g., mouth, ears, nose, various lumens, blood vessels, urethra, anal,etc.) and/or normally closed openings, such as may be accessed via anincision as described in this disclosure. The interior of suchindividuals as organisms, cells, bacteria, viruses, etc. can be accessedthrough normally closed openings such as incisions, pipettes, probes,tools, tactile feedback devices, cutters, displays, etc. As such, theterm “surface”, whether situated at least partially internally and/or atleast partially externally relative to the at least the portion of theindividual, should relate to, and/or be considered relative to, andbased on, the particular aspects, conditions, and/or particulars of theat least the portion of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can provide position determination, control,and/or adjustment of certain of the at least one emitter portions 150and/or the at least one detector portions 152 (and/or the at least oneCompton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151). Such adjustment and/orcontrol of the portions or entirety of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be used to controland/or adjust the amount of matter through which the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can visualize,image, and/or provide information, such as when Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing (to within the at leastone visualization, imaging, or information providing depth range to theat least one prescribed visualization, imaging, or information providingdepth). Such control and/or adjustment is typically characterized by theenergy level and/or frequency of the X-ray photons.

For example, assume that a particular Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 is configured (e.g.,based on X-ray photon energy and/or frequency) to visualize, image,and/or provide information at the at least one controllable and/oradjustable prescribed visualization, imaging, or information providingdepth. If the at least one emitter portion 150 can be arranged to directthe applied X-ray 122 substantially perpendicular to the surface 168 ofthe at least the portion of the individual, the visualization, imaging,or information providing could occur within the at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth of, for example,5 mm. However, as the angle of the applied X-rays by the emitter portionto the surface 168 of the matter changes from perpendicular to someslant from a surface of the at least the portion of the individual, suchas illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 17, the at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth also changes. Theat least one prescribed visualization, imaging, or information providingdepth corresponds to the maximum depth which the X-rays can pass to,scatter at, and return from during the Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing. Therefore, as theangle of the X-rays applied by the emitter portion to the surface 168 ofthe at least some matter of the at least the portion of the individualchanges (e.g., from perpendicular to some angle), the effectiveperpendicular depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing couldchange, which typically changes as a cosine function of the change ofangle.

With almost all types of individuals, most surfaces 168 are notcompletely planar. Consider that people, animals, organisms, and plantsare not typically flat, but instead have some degree of curvature overour surfaces. For the purpose of this disclosure, such visualization,imaging, or information providing concepts can be explained and moreeasily modeled assuming a planar initial contact surface, which maybecome closer to true as the depth imaged or visualized region becomesincrementally smaller.

Within this disclosure, “Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing”, as may therefore be performed within some setdistance from the surface 168 at which X-ray based electromagneticradiation from the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 is being emitted and Compton scattered, and canthereupon be detected. Certain aspects of such Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing may rely on theconfiguration and/or operation respective emitter portions and/ordetector portions that can respectively apply X-rays proximate to,and/or receive X-rays from, the surface 168 of the at least the portionof the individual.

The matter of the at least the portion of the individual which can bevisualized, imaged, or have information provided using a variety ofembodiments and/or configurations of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, can vary. For instance,for Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding humans or animals, the soft matter that can be visualized,imaged, or have information provided can include but is not limited to:soft tissue, fluid (blood, spinal, lymph, etc.) bone portionsinterspersed among tissue, tissue forming organs, muscles, fat, flesh,etc. Additionally, relatively hard matter such as: bones, bone portions,joints, spine portions, teeth, etc. can be visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided using certain configurations or embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.As such, the interior bones, teeth, etc. can be depth imaged to providea considerable amount of internal visualization, imaging, or informationproviding. As such, the particulars of the at least some matter can havesome effect on the visualizing, imaging, or information providing.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider can additionally visualize, image, and/orprovide information relating to such matter can be associated with, orpositioned in or nearby the at least the portion of the individual asplastic, metal, implants, pins, constructs, fillings, orthopedic braces,dental braces, etc. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider can be either stand-alonedevices, or provide input into the at least the portion of theindividual such as a tool, implant, tactile feedback providers,injecting device, probe, cutter, drill, separator, ablator, Bovieelectrocautery device, material adder, material remover, etc. Certainportions of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described in this disclosure, can pertainto visualizing, imaging, or information providing within the medicalareas, orthopedic areas, research areas, dental areas, orthodontiaareas, veterinarian areas, livestock areas, wild animal or aquaticanimal areas, etc.

Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingof such individuals as plants or organisms can involve depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing at least some of thevarious particular components or structure of the plant or organism.Such Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding of plants, organisms, etc. can be for research, commercial,medical, veterinarian, dental, or other purposes. For instance, certainorganisms being visualized, imaged, or have information provided canwithin a human, animal, or other host, can be distinct, or can be atleast partially integrated in human, plant, organism, animal, etc.

There may be particular aspects of particular type of Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing, as can beperformed by particular embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 as described in thisdisclosure. For example, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 might beparticularly useful in Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing a region within the at least the portion of theindividual that is physically separated from the location where theapplied X-rays 120 initially pass through the surface. As such, certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may have to image through considerable matter,tissue, etc. that may not be desired to be included in thevisualization, imaging, or information providing, such as by using imagecombining (e.g., image subtraction, time of flight Compton scatteredX-ray depth visualization, or other technique such as by using imagesubtraction, image transformation, deconvolution, image subtraction,weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, and group includinginverse integral transform, subtractive inverse integral transform,inverse functional transform, and subtractive inverse functionaltransform, or other such image processing techniques), and/or otherimaging, or information providing, techniques as described in thisdisclosure; the depth visualizing or imaging effects of such matter thatis not desired to be visualized, imaged, or have information providedcan be computationally limited. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured or operated to most effectively image the matter of the atleast the portion of the individual situated nearby the external orinternal surface 168 (e.g., via skin or other internal or externalsurface, or alternately through an incision, cut, etc.) of the at leastthe portion of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 are described in this disclosure as havingtheir energy level and/or frequency of the applied X-rays that can becontrolled and/or adjusted. The term controllable can, depending oncontext, indicate the ability of the user and/or other entity to controlthe depth, and/or range of depths, at which the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, can image through thematter of the at least the portion of the individual. Such control canbe based at least in part on controlling the energy level and/orfrequency of at least some applied X-rays 120. By comparison, the termadjustable can, depending on context, indicate that some adjustment canbe made to the depth at which the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 visualizes, images, or providesinformation into the matter of the at least the portion of theindividual. Such adjustment can be based, at least in part, oncontrolling the energy level and/or frequency of at least some appliedX-rays 120. Such control or adjustment of depth, or range of depths, canbe made during initial and/or subsequent depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing, and can be empirically determined or not. Avariety of embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be controllable and/oradjustable based at least in part on controlling the energy level and/orfrequency of at least some applied X-rays 120, as described in thisdisclosure; while other embodiments may not.

Certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97, of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as described in this disclosure,can utilize a variety of software, hardware, firmware, depth visualizingor imaging technology, electronic and/or electric circuitry tofacilitate the desired Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing. A variety of the software, hardware, firmware,depth visualizing or imaging technology, electronic and/or electriccircuitry is understood in the field of controllers, optical systems,electronics, and/or computers; and might be effectively performed by avariety of types of the visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97. For instance, certain embodiments of Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing that can rely atleast partially on visualization, imaging, or information providingimage subtraction or combination, filtering, and/or processing, etc., asdescribed in this disclosure, such as are particularly likely to involvesoftware, hardware, firmware, and/or electronic to perform suitableimage processing such as transforms, etc. As such, certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can allow transitioning or reconfiguration betweendifferent types of Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing such as by operation selection, reprogramming,modification, replacement, or reconfiguration of the visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 (such as may controloperation of the emitter portion 150 and/or the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151 of FIG. 1). The operational or processingrequirements of the visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 may be quite demanding, for certain applications.

There are a number of embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can be used tovisualize, image, or provide information. FIGS. 18 and 20, for example,illustrate two respective exemplary but not limiting embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,each embodiment conforms generally to the description on this disclosurerelating to the FIG. 1 block diagram. Exemplary, but not limiting, logicpertaining to the respective FIGS. 18 and 20 embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information providers 100, andcan be applied to certain large flow charts as described respectivelyrelative to FIGS. 19 and 21.

It is envisioned that one or more distinct components, or portions, ofcertain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, can be included in one or more separate ordistinct Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationproviders 100 (such as described with respect to FIG. 1) can beoperationally combined or configured as desired. Such components orportions from the one or more separate or distinct Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information providers 100 can interoperate,using known networking concepts. Each portion or component of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider canthereby perform one or more distinct functions or operations associatedwith the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider.

As such, at least certain portions or components of differentembodiments of one or more of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can interface and/or interact witheach other such as to transfer, transmit, and/or receive images,visualize, image, and/or provide information therebetween. Suchtransfer, transmission, and/or reception techniques can be provided in amanner utilizing techniques understood by those skilled in computing,hard-wired, wireless, networking, optical, communications, and othersimilar technologies. Such transmission, transferring, and/or receivingcan be performed utilizing wireless, optical, wired based and/or otherknown technologies.

There can be a variety of, and embodiments of, devices and/or techniqueswhich can be used by the at least one emitter portion 150, that cangenerate the applied X-rays. For example, certain embodiments of the atleast one emitter portion 150 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can utilize X-ray devices, tubes,etc. to generate X-rays. A variety of X-ray tubes may be used togenerate X-rays for a variety of conventional X-ray devices and/orconventional fluoroscopy devices, such as are generally known and arecommercially available. Conventional X-ray devices, tubes, etc., such asmay be utilized for conventional medical visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing, are described, for example, in chapter 5 of “TheEssential Physics of Medical Imaging, Second Edition”, J. T. Bushburg,et al., Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2002 (incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety). The X-ray tubes, devices, etc. can, dependingon context, be considered as those devices that can be configured toproduce X-rays including X-ray photons of a particular energy level orrange, frequency or range, power or range, etc. he the For conventionaltransmissive X-ray imaging, for example, the X-rays can pass through theat least the portion of the individual 82. By comparison, thoseembodiments of the at least one emitter portion 150 of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canvisualize, image, and/or provide information utilizing such Comptonscattered X-ray mechanisms as Compton backscatting, Compton forwardscattering, etc. of the applied X-ray in a manner that can rely onX-rays that have characteristics (frequency, energy level, power, etc.of the X-ray photons).

Certain external embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be configured such that theparticular frequency or X-ray photon energy, or such other operationalcharacteristic(s) of at least some of the X-ray photons included withinthe applied X-ray, can pertain to the depth of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing. As such, thefrequency or energy level of a number of X-ray photons included in theapplied X-ray, if controlled or adjusted, can have the effect ofcontrolling or adjusting the depth(s) of Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing into the matter of theat least the portion of the individual 82. Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can visualize, image, and/or provide information down to within the atleast one visualization, imaging, or information providing depth rangeto the at least one prescribed visualization, imaging, or informationproviding depth, which range of depths can be at least partiallyadjusted and/or controlled. Such determination can be either at leastpartially empirically, empirically, such as by calculation, derivation,or determination. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can obtain the X-rayCompton scattered X-ray information in the form of information, data,depth visualizations, images, and/or provided information, etc.

The at least one substantially scattered depth range to the at least oneprescribed substantially scattered depth distance from the surface 168of the individual, such that the electromagnetic radiation of theapplied X-ray passes into the at least the portion of the individual,scatters, and may therefore cause a reduction in the energy level of theX-ray upon scattering. The latter distance can thereby be controlled toeffectively control the Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing characteristics as per the former. Certain ofthe at least one visualization, imaging, or information providing depthrange to the at least one prescribed visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth, which can vary along with varied surfaceconfigurations, roughness, material non-uniformities, etc.

By controlling the characteristics of the X-rays photons (e.g.,frequency and/or energy level of the X-ray photons of the X-rays,intensity of the X-rays, angle of the X-rays, etc.), the perpendiculardistance from the surface 168 of the at least the portion of theindividual that the applied X-ray passes can be controlled and/oradjusted. Such control and/or adjusting of the energy level, frequency,direction, intensity, position, and/or other aspect or parameter of theapplied X-rays can considerably limit the amount and type of matter ofthe at least the portion of the individual through which the X-rays maybe applied. For instance, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider can be configured toemit the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation (of the applied X-ray orthe scattered X-ray) at one or more selected organ(s) and/or matter,while limiting the application of the X-ray electromagnetic radiation toother organs, matter, etc. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can control theangle at which it applies its X-ray photons to the surface 168 of the atleast the portion of the individual.

Due to the uncertain health effects of application of X-rays on humans,other individuals, and/or users, it may be desirable, in many instances,to limit the amount of X-ray electromagnetic radiation applied to the atleast the portion of the individual, and/or any nearby users, when usingthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100. Additionally, it would be expected to ease acceptance of certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 by the appropriate regulatory agencies, in theamount of X-rays being applied to individuals and/or users (particularlyhuman) could be limited considerably. As such, by the certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 be configured to image a relatively smallportion of the individual using depth-imaging techniques (e.g., imagingscan in a small portion underneath, primarily imaging matter through adepth, primarily certain organs, etc.), it can inherently limit theamount and extent of X-rays pass.

For example, certain regions or locations of particular individuals(e.g., the embryo in pregnant women, certain organs, certain tissue,radiation-weakened individuals, elderly or informed, certain animals ororganisms, etc.) might be particularly susceptible to the application ofX-ray electromagnetic radiation, and as such are especially critical toshield from the application of X-rays. As such, it might be particularlydesirable to configure at least certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to allowcontrol of the particular range of depth to the prescribed depth of theapplied X-rays 120 (as well as their released amount) within the atleast the portion of the individual. By limiting the amount and energylevel of the X-ray photons of the applied X-rays being applied to the atleast some matter of the at least the portion of the individual by suchtechniques as bandwidth limiting, X-ray energy reduction, filtering,shielding, etc., the application of the X-ray to the user and/orindividual can be limited.

Allowing relatively precise directional control of applied X-rays 120using correlators, lenses, etc. such as emitted by the at least oneemitter portion 150, as compared with certain conventional X-ray imagers(conventional transmissive or fluorescent X-rays) can considerablyreduce the X-ray dosage to the at least the portion of the individual.Also, X-ray dosages to nearby users can be limited. Such use ofrelatively low-energy applied X-rays, precise application of appliedX-rays to limited region of the individual, and associated reduceddosage of nearby areas, users, and/or individuals by certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 could improve the public's and professional perception andacceptance thereof.

With certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, the user such as a doctor,researcher, veterinarian, surgeon, etc. (each of whom may be involved inexamination, surgery, and/or research, etc.) can appropriatelysubsurface visualize, image, and/or provide information relating to theat least the portion of the individual 82. Depending on context, certaintypes of Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding can be applied from nearby or proximate the surface 168 downto within the at least one visualization, imaging, or informationproviding depth range to the at least one prescribed visualization,imaging, or information providing depth. Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can vary from the micron range up to and including substantially througha major portion of the individual 82.

The resolution of certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 might be effective forcertain diagnosis, examination, surgical, research, and other purposes;and certain embodiments Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider could provide desired or appropriate resolutionsthrough the visualized, imaged, or information provided portion of theindividual 82.

It may be desired for certain visualization, imaging, or informationproviding applications to adjust and/or control the visualization,imaging, or information providing by certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Withinthis disclosure, the term “control”, as it relates to Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing, can mean, but isnot limited to, controlling the energy level, frequency, angle,additional matter imaged through, and/or other characteristics of theapplied X-ray 120 by certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Within this disclosure,the term “adjust” can mean, but is not limited to, depending on context,adjusting the at least one range of visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth to the at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth. Such control oradjustment can occur by altering or adjusting certain characteristics ofthe applied X-rays such as energy level, frequency, depth, angle fromperpendicular to the surface 168, etc.

Such control and/or adjustment of certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can makethe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information providermore applicable to a variety of applications. For example, certaincontrollable embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can visualize, image, and/or provideinformation a variety of matter within the at least the portion of theindividual at a variety of depths, or range of depths. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can adjust the depth of Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing and/or their resolutionbased on controlling the X-ray characteristics of the applied X-ray.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can therefore be configured to be adjustablytunable, such that the user can adjust the energy of the X-ray photons.By adjusting the energy of the X-ray photons of the applied X-rays, forexample, the at least one substantially scattered depth range to the atleast one prescribed substantially scattered depth of Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing into the matterof the at least the portion of the individual can be adjusted.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can utilize steered, focused, directed,filtered, scanned, and/or processed X-rays. Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can visualize, image, and/or provide information along a variety of one,two, or three dimensional patterns, in certain instances such as byscanning to create a two or three dimensional visualize, image, and/orprovide information within the at least the portion of the individual82. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to be low ornon-contact, as well as low or non-invasive, such as by utilizing anembodiment of the emitter portion 150 having no or limited contact withthe surface 168.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider may allow the operation and/or structure of thedetector portion and the display portion to be at least partiallycombined. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can allow the user, or a controller,to alter the Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing of subsequent or sequential depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information based at least in part on resultsfrom prior captured images. Such sequential Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information may allow such exemplary users asdoctors, surgeons, veterinarians, researchers, etc. to determine theregion within the at least the portion of the individual that is beingvisualized, imaged, or have information provided. It may be desirable toprovide for such changes in visualization, imaging, or informationproviding using a variety of image processing techniques to effect suchchanges as magnification; zooming; changing a relative angle, depth, orposition of the visualization, image, or provided information, and/orchanging a variety of other visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding parameter such as may be desired or useful by the user orindividual.

A variety of configurations and/or operational combinations of the atleast one emitter portion(s) 150, the at least one Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151, the at least one detector portion, and/orthe at least one display portion(s) 154 may be associated with theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.As described in this disclosure, certain embodiments of the at least oneemitter portion 150 can be directed such as to apply X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation at a precisely controllable region of the atleast the portion of the individual 82; such as may thereupon bedetected by certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion152. Such application and/or detection of the electromagnetic radiationcan be done once, multiple continuous times without feedback by a userand/or controller, multiple sequential times with feedback by a userand/or controller, or other ways or combinations thereof. Theapplication or detection of X-rays may rely on transmission of a varietyof beams such as pulse, continuous, pencil beam, fan, flooding, or othertypes of the applied X-rays.

Certain embodiment(s) component(s), and/or portion(s) of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured as an at least partially external device, such as todepth-examine the at least some matter of the at least the portion ofthe individual either directly through the matter itself, or alternatelybelow an either external or internal surface 168 of the at least theportion of the individual. For certain external embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,the “subsurface” Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can, depending upon context, relate to Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing beneaththe skin or other external surface. Certain embodiment(s) component(s),and/or portion(s) of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider can be configured as an at least partially internaldevice, such as to examine an internal portion of the individual 82through an incision, or alternately through a normally open opening inthe at least the portion of the individual.

For certain internal embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, a “subsurface”undergoing visualization, imaging, or information providing can,depending upon context, relate to being applied through a normally openportions of the individual, such as beneath the surface 168, within aregion at least partially forming the lumen, within a cavity, or withinanother body opening. For internal embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can beapplied through normally closed portions of the individual (e.g., anincision, a wound, etc.), the term “subsurface” can, depending uponcontext, including the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 being applied through the normally-closedopening, incision, etc. Various embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can visualize,image, or provide information through a variety of such matter astissue, bone portions, fluid, blood, etc. through the range of depths tothe prescribed penetration depth 170, as described with respect to FIG.18.

FIG. 19 shows one embodiment of a flowchart of a Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing technique 300 that canbe performed by the embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 as described in thisdisclosure of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 can include operationally distinct ones of the at least one detectorportion 152 from the at least one display portion 154. Certainembodiments of the subsurface Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing technique 300 can include one or moreoperations 302, 304, 306, and/or 308 to be applied within the at leastone visualization, imaging, or information providing depth range to theat least one prescribed visualization, imaging, or information providingdepth into the at least some matter.

Certain embodiments of operation 302 can include, but is not limited to,applying at least one applied X-ray from an at least one emitter portion150 towards an at least some matter of an at least a portion of anindividual. For example, certain embodiments of the at least one emitterportion(s) 150 can apply X-rays toward the desired matter (e.g., tissue,fluid, bone, teeth, joint, fat, muscle, etc.) of the at least theportion of the individual in a manner that the X-rays can be Comptonscattered within the at least some matter. Such application of appliedX-rays can thereupon be used by certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to allowdepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing. A considerablepercentage of the applied X-rays that are scattered and returned to bedetected by the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 could bescattered between within the at least one substantially scattered depthrange to the at least one prescribed substantially scattered depth. Thevalue of the at least one substantially scattered depth range to the atleast one prescribed substantially scattered depth can be based at leastpartially on the energy level of the X-ray photons of the applied X-ray120. The energy level of the X-ray photons of the applied X-ray 120 isconsidered to be directly related to frequency.

Certain embodiments of the operation 304 can include, but is not limitedto, obtaining at least one (e.g., Compton) scattered X-ray thatscattered from the at least one applied X-ray at the at least onedetector portion 152. In effect, certain of the Compton scattered X-rays122 can be received at the detector portion 152, at least partiallybased on the scattering of the applied X-rays 120 at the scatteringevent (e.g., within the at least some matter of the at least the portionof the individual). Certain of the applied X-rays can be applied by theat least one emitter portion 150 during operation 302.

Certain embodiments of the operation 306 (which is optional) caninclude, but is not limited to, processing the at least one Comptonscattered X-ray received during operation 304, to visualize, image,and/or provide information about the at least the portion of theindividual. For example, certain embodiments of the visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 can derivevisualizations, images, and/or provide information such as can bedisplayed.

Certain embodiments of the operation 308 can include, but is not limitedto, deriving the at least one visualization, image, and/or providedinformation as can be at least partially processed and/or capturedduring operation 306. For example, certain embodiments of the displayportion 154 and/or the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151(which may be a scintillator and/or fluoroscope embodiment) can displaya visualization, image, and/or provide information of at least a portionof the matter of the at least the portion of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider may be configured to, at least partially,convert scattered X-rays directly into viewable or visible light,without the processing the scattered X-ray such as may be provided withcertain scintillator embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. FIG. 21 shows oneembodiment of a flowchart of a Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing technique 400 that can be performed bythe embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 without processing. Certain embodiments of thesubsurface Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing technique 400 can include one or more ofoperations 402, 404, and/or 406 as described in this disclosure tovisualize, image, and/or provide information using a scintillator(and/or fluoroscope) embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151. Certain scintillator (and/or fluoroscope) embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can visualize, image,or provide information within the at least one visualization, imaging,or information providing depth range to the at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth into the matterof the at least the portion of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the operation 402 can include, but is not limitedto, applying at least one applied X-ray from the at least one emitterportion towards the at least some matter of the at least the portion ofthe individual. For example, certain embodiments of the at least oneemitter portion(s) 150 can apply X-rays toward the desired matter (e.g.,tissue, fluid, bone, teeth, joint, fat, muscle, etc.) of the at leastthe portion of the individual in a manner that the X-rays can be Comptonscattered within the matter.

Certain embodiments of the operation 404 can include, but is not limitedto, receiving at least some (e.g., Compton) X-ray at the at least oneCompton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 as described in thisdisclosure, in response to the applied X-rays 120 applied by the atleast one emitter portion 150. A considerable percentage of the appliedX-rays that are scattered and returned to be detected by the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 will be scattered through the atleast one substantially scattered depth range to the at least oneprescribed substantially scattered depth. Such scattering can be basedat least partially on the energy level (or frequency, which is relatedthereto) of the X-ray photons of the applied X-ray 120, as described inthis disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the operation 406 can include, but is not limitedto, deriving at least one visualization, image, or provided informationat least partially in response to the receiving the at least onescattered X-ray at the at least one Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151. For example, certain scintillator (and/or fluoroscope)embodiments of the display portion 154 and/or the Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151 can display a depth visualization or imageof at least a portion of the matter of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 thereby can provide a mechanism tovisualize, image, and/or provide information down to, or at, one or moredepths (in many instances controllably) into at least partially X-raymatter such as to capture depth visualizations, images, and/or providedinformation. Within this disclosure, much of the matter beingdepth-imaged by certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be expected to beinterspersed, mixed, compounded, or at least partially combined withother matter such as bones, metal, etc. within the individual such astypically exists in at least certain portions of the individual 82.Certain embodiments of the X-ray Compton scattered X-ray, such as can beperformed by certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, can thereby be used tovisualize, image, and/or provide information matter that can be at leastpartially combined with relatively electromagnetic radiation-Comptonscattered X-ray matter.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to be used to visualize,image, and/or provide information at least portions of certain matterthat is relatively “hard”, considering the applied X-rays 120, such asbones, bone fragments or portions, spinal portions, cranial portions,metal, implants, etc. Such re-configurations as altering the frequenciesof the applied X-rays 120 may be used to configure the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to visualize,image, and/or provide information matter(s) having variedcharacteristics. By depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingof hard matter such as bones, spinal portions, certain implants, etc.,it can become possible to examine a two-dimensional, orthree-dimensional portion of the bone, etc. with considerableresolutional accuracy. Such depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding of hard matter can be controlled and/or adjusted as describedin this disclosure. Such Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing of hard matter can be performed prior tosurgery or examination, during surgery or examination, following surgeryor examination. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can visualize, image,and/or provide information hard matter in combination with other matter.For example, a bone can be imaged in combination with associated joints,muscles, tendons, surgical pins, plates, etc. Additionally, a brainportion can be visualized, imaged, or have information provided relativeto associated cranial portions (e.g., skull), etc. Providing suchadjustability or control of Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing can allow doctors, surgeons, dentists,etc. to obtain accuracy of Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing of a variety of matter within the atleast the portion of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to visualize, image, orprovide information relating to a combination of at least some softmatter such as tissue, blood cells, bodily fluids, etc. as combined withcertain embodiments of the at least some hard matter such as bones,teeth, etc. Such visualization, imaging, or providing information of acombination of at least some hard matter with at least some soft mattermay be particularly useful when considering junction matter regions,such as the intersection of gums with teeth; the intersection of boneswith tendons, ligaments, muscles, tissue, etc.

A variety of embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to image edges,sides, inconsistencies, or non-uniformities of matter, tissue, organs,etc. It may therefore be possible to locate particular organs, matter,tissue, etc. based on such inconsistencies, or non-uniformities of theorgans, matter, tissue, etc. For example, as applied X-rays 120 areapplied to visualize, image, and/or provide information a region of theat least the portion of the individual where an organ is situated, theedge portion of the organ may scatter the applied X-rays in a directionthat differs from the remainder of the organ. Such Compton scatteredX-ray along the edge may lead into a detectable difference of the depthCompton scattered X-ray image at the edge of the X-ray Compton scatteredX-ray organ. Such differences of characteristics of Compton scatteredX-ray based at least in part on angle, position, or other aspect of thematter can be used by certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described in thisdisclosure.

FIG. 8 shows one embodiment of the emitter portion 150 that can beincluded in certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described in thisdisclosure, while FIG. 9 shows another embodiment. Certain embodimentsof the at least one emitter portion 150 can emit the applied X-raystoward the at least the portion of the individual 82 over an angle suchas with a pencil beam, fan beam, area beam, or other beam; while otherembodiments can emit the applied X-rays in a narrow beam such as apencil beam. Certain embodiments of the emitter portion 150 can emitcollimated X-rays, while others can emit incoherent X-rays. Certainembodiments of the at least one emitter portion 150 can include suchadjustable optical elements as Bragg optics elements to adjust thepattern/direction of the applied X-ray emission, while others may not beadjustable or controllable. The configuration, design, and usage ofcertain embodiments of the emitter portion 150 can depend, at least inpart, on the particular characteristics of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing (as well as thecharacteristics of the at least the portion of the individual beingvisualized, imaged, or have information provided).

In general, certain embodiments of the emitter portion 150 are thereforeconfigured to direct at least one X-ray towards the at least the portionof the individual. Certain embodiments of the at least one emitterportion 150, can include, but are not limited to, a power source 836, acathode 832, a field emission tip 850, and/or an anode 834. Otherillustrative potential structures of the at least one emitter portion150 are described in this disclosure, while still others are generallyunderstood by those skilled with X-ray tubes and generating devices.Certain embodiments of the power source 836 and the cathode 832 can bearranged in an electron circuit such as to provide an electric (e.g.,electron) flow from the cathode 832, such as can be at least partiallydischarged via the electron emitter tip 850 and the anode 834. Certainembodiments of the electron emitter tip 850 can be in electricalcommunication with the cathode, such as to be configured as to becapable of discharging the electron flow that can be at least partiallydirected at the anode 834.

Certain embodiments of the electron emitter tip 850 may be configured asan electron discharge region that can generate and/or direct theelectron flow in a pattern, frequency, energy level, configuration, orother parameter as described with respect to FIG. 8. Certain embodimentsof the electron emitter tip 850 are configured to establish the electronflow, and as such may include such elements as a triode, antenna,nanostructure, or other such component. Certain embodiments of theelectron emitter tip 850 can also be configured to include one or more(carbon) nanotubes, which may be effectively configured aselectromagnetic radiation antennas. Certain embodiments of the electronemitter tip 850 can thereby utilize one or more discrete elements, whileother embodiments can utilize a number or array of carbon nanotubes,etc.

Certain embodiments of the electron emitter tip 850 can be fixed, whileother embodiments can be adjusted or displaced such as to change such asto alter the pattern of electron emission, such as by moving theelectron source. One example of a movable or adjustable electron emittertip 850 can include, for example, utilizing adjustment or displacementof a flexible carbon nanotube electrically coupled to the cathode.

Certain embodiments of the anode 834 can be configured and/or biasedduring operation as to attract electrons from the combination of thecathode 832 and/or the electron emitter tip 850. Upon contact of theelectron flow into certain embodiments of the anode 834, certainembodiments of the anode can thereupon generate X-ray photons of thedesired frequency and/or energy level. In certain embodiments of theemitter portion 150, the electron flow emanating from the electronemitter tip 850 can remain substantially static, and as such may not bedirectable or scannable. With other embodiments of the emitter portion150, the electron emitter tip 850 of the cathode 832 can steer, scan, orotherwise displace the electron flow to the desired location relative tothe anode 834. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured toinclude a stepper motor, or other motor or displacement mechanism (notshown) to control or adjust the positions of the emitter portion 150and/or the detector portion 152. The respective emitter portion 150and/or detector portion 152 may be configured to operationally pan andtilt during operation such as to provide a desired degree ofadjustability. Certain embodiments of the electron emitter tip 850 canbe configured as an X-ray source (e.g., in certain instances the sizemay be in the small mm range such that it may, in certain instances, fitwithin certain blood vessels or lumens such as to allow depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing from these locations). Inother embodiments, the size of the electron emitter tip 850 may beconsiderably larger such as to interface with an external or largerportion of the individual 82.

Certain embodiments of the electron emitter tip 850 beam can beconfigured to be displaceable or moveable such as to allow controland/or adjustment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, such as by scanning, shifting, axially moving,beam focusing control, rotating, panning, or otherwise moving to alterthe path of the electron flow. For example: one or more MicroElectro-Mechanical System (MEMS) devices, a rotating crystal, anelectromechanical or X-ray scanning mechanism, or other suitable meansmay be included in the certain embodiments of the electron emitter tip850 such as to provide control and/or adjustment of the electron emittertip. Certain embodiments of the emitter portion 150 can be configured toproduce X-rays that are at least partially incident on a lens (notshown, but which may include a crystal which is configured as a lens)that can be displaceable to move and/or scan the X-ray beam.Alternately, certain embodiments of the emitter portion 150 can beconfigured as an array type device, with different ones are differentgroups of the elements being a controlled either manually or at leastpartially by the depth visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97. Such scanning of the X-ray beam can follow a raster-typescan, use a fan type beam, pencil type beam, or other scan, perhapssimilar to those utilize to in certain other conventional tomographyscanners, or may follow some other pattern. In certain instances, thescanning of the at least one emitter portion 150 may be coordinated withthe scanning of the at least one detector portion 152, or alternately ascanning detector portion may be associated with an emitter portion thatgenerates X-rays which effectively “flood” the at least the portion ofthe individual 82 being visualized, imaged, or have informationprovided. The selection of the particular scanning or floodingconfiguration may affect X-ray dosage of the user and/or nearbyindividuals, as described in this disclosure.

Various embodiments of the power source 836, as described with respectto FIG. 8, may be configured as desired, as long as it provides adequatepower to the cathode to establish the electron flow from the particularembodiment of the electron emitter tip 850, depending on theconfiguration of electron emitter tip as well as the anode. Certainembodiments of the emitter portion 150 can thereby be configured todirect electrons, as provided by the power source 836, the cathode 832,and/or the electron emitter tip 858. The electrons may therefore bedirected from the electron emitter tip 850 to the anode 834 as describedwith respect to FIG. 8. Altering or controlling the electron flow mayhave a corresponding effect on the generation of photons by the anode834. Certain embodiments of the emitter portion 150 may alternately bepowered optically, such as to include the photon generator 880 asapplied to the power source 836, as described with respect to FIG. 9.

Certain embodiments of the photon generator 880 can alternately utilize,for example, an optically fed photoelectric stack, an optical fedbattery, a solar panel, or a variety of other device that can generateX-ray photons. Certain embodiments of the at least one emitter portion150 utilizing the photon generator 880 as described with respect to FIG.9, can be adjustable, controlled, fixed, dispersed, and/or focused, etc.as to control and/or adjust generation of X-ray photons as describedwith respect to the FIG. 8 embodiment of the emitter portion.

With certain embodiments of the emitter portion 150, as described withrespect to FIG. 8, an electron grid (not shown) may be positioned,adjusted, and/or controlled from a location such as operationallyproximate to the electron flow. For example, the electron grid may besituated adjacent a path at least partially situated between theelectron emitter tip 850 and the anode 834. Certain embodiments of theelectron grid may be configured, upon activation, to steer, scan, orotherwise control the flow or velocity of electrons passing from theelectron emitter tip 850 to the anode 834. Such steering, scanning,accelerating, decelerating, or otherwise controlling the flow orvelocity of electrons can in addition control or alter thecharacteristics or position(s) at which the photons generated contactthe particular anode 834.

Certain basic embodiments of the anode 834 can be configured in avariety of forms. For example, the anode can include a thin metal foil,or other configuration, that can be positioned in suitable proximity tothe electron emitter tip 850. Certain embodiments of the anode 834 canbe provided to be controllable and/or adjustable such as to include atleast one anode wheel, cassette, cartridge, etc. (not shown) that canemit X-ray photons whose characteristics can be adjusted and/orcontrolled, such as by displacement, rotation, etc., such as to providevaried anode metals or other materials anodes (or having differentshapes, dimensions, or other configurations) in communication with theelectron flow.

By using an anode wheel, cartridge, canister, or other such mechanismthat can alter the material and/or configuration of the anode, thecharacteristics of the X-ray photons (such as energy level and/orfrequency) being generated by the at least one emitter portion can becontrolled or altered. Such controlling and/or altering of the X-raysbeing emitted can control and/or alter the at least one substantiallyscattered depth range to the at least one prescribed substantiallyscattered depth, and thereby the at least one visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth range to the at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth, being performedby certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 as described in this disclosure.Certain other uses of anode wheels is known in certain conventionalX-ray tubes, which can function largely to maintain all portions of theanode within acceptable temperature ranges by altering the portion ofthe anode wheel which the electron flow contacts, and is therefore beinginstantaneously heated by the electron flow. The anode wheels could alsoinclude a motive mechanism (not shown) to allow suitable rotation and/ordisplacement of the anode wheel (either rotationally and/or axially)such as may utilize a stepper motor, a pneumatic drive, an electricmotor, etc. Certain embodiments of the anode wheel could also include avariety of control mechanisms (not shown) to control such rotationand/or displacement. A variety of such control, rotation, and/ordisplacement mechanisms are generally understood by those skilled in theanode wheel art.

Certain embodiments of the anode 834 can thereby be configured togenerate the X-ray photons at controllable and/or adjustable energylevels, frequencies, or other characteristic based at least in part onthe characteristic of the electron flow being applied to the anode 834,and additionally on the material of the anode 834. As such, it may bepossible to generate X-rays having particular characteristics byselecting particular materials (e.g., different metals) orconfigurations of the anode that can be either shifted in positionrelative to (e.g., in front of) the electron flow. Additionally, movingor angling the anode relative to the electrons (or vice versa) mayresult in different characteristics of the applied X-ray. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby be adjusted or controlled byshifting or steering the electron flow relative to the anode 834 suchthat the portion of the anode which the electron flow contacts may bemade of multiple varied materials and/or configurations. Certainembodiments of the anode 834 can be configured in the shape of a wheel(e.g., to form an anode wheel) that when rotated can result inpositioning of the desired metal in contact with the electron flow suchas to provide control and/or adjustment of the applied X-rays.

There can be a variety of additional components that can be applied tocertain embodiments of the emitter portion 150 within certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described with respect to FIGS. 8 and/or 9.Certain embodiments of the at least one emitter portion 150 can furtherinclude a collimator or X-ray lens 842 that can focus, angle, or directthe photons emitted from the emitter portion as desired. Certainembodiments of the X-ray lens or collimator 842 can be controllable suchas to provide control of such Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing processes as emitter portiondirectability, signal or image filtering, image zooming, starting,stopping, or pausing Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing, signal or image processing, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can utilize an optional vacuum (at leastpartially evacuated) portion 854, as described with respect to FIGS. 8and/or 9, which can be utilized to limit contact of the electrons of theelectron flow traveling from the cathode 832 to the anode 834 withextraneous gas, air, suspended solids, liquid, and/or other minuteparticles suspended in the air. As such, certain embodiments of theoptional vacuum (at least partially evacuated) portion 854 can limitinteraction of the photons with additional particles. Additionally,certain embodiments of the vacuum portion 854 may thereby be configuredto at least partially limit combustion of certain of the electroniccomponents contained therein as a result of the heat being generatedupon the exposure to air. Certain embodiments of the vacuum (at leastpartially evacuated) portion 854 can thereby be configured as a vacuumtube, such as may be configured as an interlumenal X-ray source and isgenerally understood by those skilled in the X-ray tube technologies.

Certain embodiments of a capacitor 830 can optionally be arranged in anelectronic circuit including the power source 836 and the cathode 832 asdescribed with respect to FIG. 8. Certain embodiments of the cathode 832can be configured with the capacitor 830 to store particular levels ofelectric voltage such as can be applied to the cathode 832, andsubsequently released as desired as the electron flow via the electronemitter tip 850.

While this disclosure describes certain embodiments of the at least oneemitter portion 150, it is to be understood that any mechanism that cantransmit X-rays whose frequency, energy level, or other characteristiccan be controlled or adjusted may be used in certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.The embodiments of the at least one emitter portion 150 as described inthis disclosure with respect to FIGS. 1, 8, 9, as well as otherlocations in this disclosure, is intended to be illustrative in nature,but not limiting in scope. As mentioned in this disclosure, for example,certain embodiments of the emitter portion 150 could be at leastpartially replaced by an optical-generating portion as described withrespect to FIG. 9. It is envisioned that the at least one emitterportion 150 can thereby be configured slightly differently in operationand/or configurations, such as to generate photons in a differentmanner, but are still intended to be within the scope of the presentdisclosure as being within the claimed limitations. For example, thevacuum (evacuated) portion 854, such as a vacuum tube, may include oneor more discrete emitter tip elements or one or more (carbon) nanotubesbe configured as the electron emitter tip 850 as described with respectto FIG. 9.

Certain embodiments of the emitter portion 150 of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described withrespect to FIGS. 8 and 9, may therefore be adjustable and/orcontrollable such as by being configured for repositioning, angling,filtering, or some other suitable technique. For instance, certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can include a stepper motor such as may beconfigured such that it can pan and tilt, thereby providing some controland/or adjustment to emitted photons that can be emitted by the at leastone emitter portion 150. Such stepper motors may thereupon be consideredto represent one illustrative embodiment of an adjustment or controlportion that can also be accomplished by use of a photon lens orcollimator 842.

Certain embodiments or configurations of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described withrespect to FIG. 1, can visualize, image, and/or provide informationteeth, dental plates or surfaces 168, etc. such as may be used bydentists, oral hygienists, etc. as described with respect to FIG. 22.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can allow Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing of at least one toothat one or more angles, positions, magnifications, etc. as desired. Theparticular display portion 151 that may be selected may be based uponuser preference, ease of use, design choice, etc. The embodiment of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,as illustrated in FIG. 22, could be attached to a probe, for example.Similar user configurations of certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beapplied to tools being used by doctors, surgeons, veterinarians, as wellas other users as described in this disclosure. As the visualization,imaging, or information providing can be performed by certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 from a number of different angles, positions,etc., it may be desired to display at least the display portion reflectthe change in angle, position, etc.

As the user/dentist, as illustrated in FIG. 22, moves or repositions theprobe, it might be preferred to have the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to adequately reflectthe angle or position of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding. With sufficient changes of the angle, material of the anode,and/or position of the visualization, imaging, or information providing,certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can derive and/or display athree-dimensional model of the one or more teeth. Certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can therefore provide information or images such as to determinewhere and/or how to treat the at least the portion of the individual(patient). Certain dental embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be applied to adental drill, and thereupon be displayed at a location and magnificationsuch as can be made viewable and/or visible to the user. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that are operatively associated with certaintools, tactile providers, etc. need not be directly connected (or may beremovably connected, to the tool, tactile provider, etc.

Certain of the images can also be provided to the patient as well usingthe same or other Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, when attached toa tool performing a desired operation, can act as a double check toensure the tooth being imaged by the user is indeed the one that shouldbe dealt with. For example, a dentist can check that the correct toothis being drilled. A doctor can ensure the correct arm, leg, or otherbody part is being treated, etc. There can be a large variety of toolsthat may be used by such users as surgeons, assistants, veterinarians,dentists, etc. as generally understood to be used in each particulararea. It is envisioned that certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be applied toa variety of tools and/or tactile feedback devices that could benefit byuse with visualization, imaging, or information providing, as describedin this disclosure.

The location of the drill or other tool including certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 as taken relative to the decayed or damaged portions of the teethcan be detected on a substantially real-time, intermittent, or asdesired basis. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured toprovide tactile feedback, which in the case of a dentists are dentalassistant would be useful in determining the security of a tooth, thedegree of tooth decay within a particular tooth, the security of braces,caps, filling, dental plates, or other device within the individual. Byusing certain dental depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, it may not be necessary for dental patientsto use conventional X-ray plates (positioned between the teeth of theperson that has to be bitten down by the person) during dental X-raysthereby making dental visits more pleasant.

Such dental depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing can beperformed substantially parallel to the drilling or other. As such, theuser such as the dentist or dental hygienist can be provided an improvedindication of where they are drilling or treating relative to damaged ordecayed teeth. Certain embodiments the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured asclinic, emergency, or home-test kits, by which people could check thestate of certain illness shows, sicknesses, injuries, painful oruncertain orthodontia, gum, dental, skin, or other conditions, etc. Theuser can thereby be provided with considerable detail as to thecondition of, or decay within the teeth from particularly desiredangles.

Additionally, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can allow depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing of the gums, portion ofteeth hidden by the gum, and other matter and portions within or closeto the mouth that may be useful for dental use. Certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can visualize, image, and/or provide information the relating toteeth, gums, tongue, blood vessels or pools, or other general aspects,etc. Certain dental embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can operate through thecheeks, and as such the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be situated either at partially externalto, or at least partially internal of the at least the portion of theindividuals mouth.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can provide “freezing” the state of certaindepth visualizations, images, and/or provided information as desired bythe user or operator, or alternately as controlled by the Comptonvisualization, imaging, and/or information providing controller. Suchfreezing of the depth visualizations, images, and/or providedinformation can include maintaining an image of the at least the portionof the individual displayed on the display portion 154 and/or theCompton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Since generating newimages may require an application of applied X-rays 120 to the at leastthe portion of the individual, it may be desired to limit suchapplication of the applied X-rays. As such, certain users canjudiciously control the application of X-rays to the at least theportion of the individual, the user, and/or others in the vicinityduring the Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing by certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider.

Certain dental or orthodontia embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 of FIG. 22 can also beused to visualize, image, or provide information relating to teeth ofhuman individuals wearing braces. It is presently difficult, if notimpossible, to accurately X-ray image teeth covered by brace bands,wires, etc. due to the distortions caused by the wires, bands, etc.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can provide such accuracy and limitedspatial scope of visualization, imaging, or information providing, as toallow Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding from a single uncovered face of a tooth (e.g., bitingsurface). As such, certain teeth covered by braces, bands, etc can bevisualized, imaged, or have information provided thereto, potentiallyfrom a variety of controllable and/or adjustable angles, positions,etc., during orthodontia treatment. Teeth, dental surfaces, fillings,etc. can be visualized, imaged, or have information provided from avariety of angles, positions, etc. such as to provide an improvedindication of their configuration, solidity, health, etc. The amount of,and reliability of, dental treatment that can be performed based atleast in part on X-rays can thereby be increased during orthodontiatreatment.

While this disclosure have described certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 as beingsubstantially externally-applied devices, it should also be understoodthat certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider can be an at least partially internaldevice. Such at least partially internal devices can be applied towithin the at least the portion of the individual using a scope, aneedle, through an incision, via a normally open opening, and/or via anormally closed opening. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can therefore beintegrated at least partially a scope devices such as an endoscopeembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described with respect to FIG. 23. Suchscope-based embodiments could be applied via normally open openings,incisions, punctures, etc. to the interior of the at least the portionof the individual.

Certain endoscope embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as illustrated in FIG. 23, caninclude a scope portion 134 or an illumination portion 136, whoseoperation and structure is generally understood to those skilled in thescope arts. The illumination portion 134 could be used to provide theapplied X-rays as described elsewhere to the individual, which thereuponcan be scattered. Certain endoscope embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can thereupon beconfigured to receive the scattered X-rays, viewable and/or visiblelight, visualization, image, or provided information from theindividual.

The scope embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can include a variety of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can include ascintillator (and/or fluoroscope), perhaps with a photomultiplier asdescribed in this disclosure to amplify a relatively weak viewableand/or visible-light output. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can include a fluoroscope asgenerally known in the art which may operate in certain ways similar tothe scintillator (and/or fluoroscope). Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can include a detectorportion in combination with a display portion as described with respectto FIG. 1 in this disclosure. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beat least partially adapted with, or at least partially configured to actas, a variety of tools. Such tools can include, but are not limited to:a Bovie electrocautery device as generally understood in the art, anablator, a cutter, a gamma knife, a scalpel, a saw, a tactile feedbackprovider, a contact-type probe, a dental drill, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 may be configured as being attached a scope,tube, catheter, or other instrument or tool that can be configured to beinserted into the at least the portion of the individual. For example,certain endoscope embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider can be configured as described withrespect to FIG. 23. Certain configurations of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be providedwith the emitter portion being situated relative to an endoscope via asurgical implant, and thereby may be similar to other embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider incertain ways, but with the emitter portion placed inside the individual.

Certain scope-based embodiments of the emitter portion 150, as describedwith respect to FIG. 23, may be largely applied to an internal portionof the individual such as to include an interluminal X-ray source; whileother embodiments of the emitter portion may be applied to an externalportion of the individual. Certain embodiments of the emitter portion150 may be powered by a variety of power sources (traditional ornon-conventional) including, but not limited to, solar cells that mayinclude traditional or untraditional power sources. For example, theemitter portion may be fed by one or more optical fibers, for example topower the at least one emitter portion 150, the at least one detectorportion 152, and/or the at least one display portion 154. Certainoptically fed embodiments of the emitter portion 150 may also includeautomated shutdown or other safety aspects relating to emission of X-raybased electromagnetic radiation. Certain embodiments of the emitterportion 150 may be implanted within the at least the portion of theindividual such as to allow visualization, imaging, or informationproviding (using certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151) on a more continuous basis. Such implants of atleast portions of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be particularly useful for difficult toaccess portions of the body, such as the heart, brain, or certain otherorgans or regions of the body, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to control X-raygeneration and/or direction at least partially by accelerating ordirecting electrons for X-ray production. Such accelerating or directingthe electrons can effectively reduce X-ray path length, and hence limitmultiple Compton scattered X-ray events. Certain embodiments of the atleast one emitter portion 150, and/or at least one detector portion 152can be configured such as by being placed by a scope or other suchdevice in a normally open opening, normally closed opening, or otherlumen, such as colon, esophagus, mouth, throat, stomach, blood vessels,lungs, gut, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can also be applied to cranial, brain, orspinal depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing. It may bedifficult to visualize, image, and/or provide information within theskull using certain conventional imaging modalities, as a result ofdeflections of certain electromagnetic radiation within the interior(e.g., substantially concave) surface 168 of the skull and theassociated distortions. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configuredto access the brain via such openings in the skull as the ear sockets,mouth opening, and/or sinuses. Such Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing of the brain throughsuch key-hole opening should experience relatively limitedvisualization, imaging, or information providing distortion, as comparedwith Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding at least partially through the skull, boney matter, or othersuch X-ray distorting or shielding regions.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to be applied torelatively small regions of the body, and thereby apply relatively smalloverall dosages of X-rays. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing can becontrollably or adjustably applied in small regions, from differentangles, etc., than certain conventional full-scale X-ray or certainconventional tomography imagers.

For instance, certain X-ray tomography-type Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing imagers can capture avisualization, image, or provide information by scanning a series ofscans relatively shallow into the at least some matter of the at leastone portion of the individual from a variety of angles and/or positions.Such scanning can be performed using a variety of respective appliedX-rays and/or scattered X-rays that can be respectively applied/receivedusing respective arrays of emitter portion(s) 150 or Compton scattereX-ray receiving assemblies 151; or alternately one or more of therespective emitter portions and/or the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassemblies 151 that can be moved, scanned, angled, or otherwiserepositioned. For instance, the certain array embodiments of the emitterportion 150 or Compton scattere X-ray receiving assemblies 151 can beconfigured to roughly conform to the general shape of the portion of theindividual being imaged, or alternately in some other configuration. Asthe distinct emitter portion element(s) 150 are actuated to provide theapplied X-rays 120, then the corresponding embodiment of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can collect the datacorresponding to the visualization, image, or provided information foreach emitter portion element(s) including some unknowns relating toparticular visualization, imaging, or information providing limitations.As a number of the distinct emitter portion element(s) 150 that directthe applied X-rays 120 under different directions, positions, energylevels, or other conditions decreases, the number of unknowns relatingto particular visualization, imaging, or information providinglimitations for at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual correspondingly decreases, and a more complete and accuratevisualization, image, or provided information can be obtained usingtomographic techniques.

A similar tomographic technique or embodiment of the of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beapplied to directing one or more emitter portion(s) 150 or Comptonscattere X-ray receiving assemblies 151 at different positions, angles,energy levels, etc. Such techniques can involve physically repositioningand/or angling of the emitter portion 150 and/or the Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151 itself/themselves such as to follow a scan,circular motion around the at least the portion of the individual, orother type of translation, angling, repositioning, changing of energylevels, etc. Alternately, a redirecting device of the applied X-ray orCompton scattered X-ray can be used, such as a filter, lens, modulator,shield, collimator, endoscope or other bendable, movable, or twistablescope or other emitter portion could be used in different embodiments,as described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can, by using low energy applied X-rays 120,provide a relatively low-power version of the applied X-ray beam 120which can be highly suited for intracranial visualization, imaging, orinformation providing and examination. The power of the applied X-raybeam may generally be configured or set at a level to be insufficient topenetrate, in large numbers, to another region that may not be depthvisualized, imaged, or information provided. Such would be the case ofbrain depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing to limittransmission of excessive doses of X-rays to the cranium, brain,brainstem, embryo, or other such the region, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can therefore be configured to visualize,image, and/or provide information in the brain, or other intracranialtissue. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 could operate with relatively highresolution, or alternately with lower resolution as desired or designedcompared to other imaging modalities, and may thereby be similar incertain aspects to that of conventional MRI. Certain embodiments of theat least one emitter portion 150 can thereby be configured to usemono-energetic, collimated, or other sources. When using at leastpartially internal (e.g., in-body) embodiments of the at least oneemitter portion 150, it may be possible to increase X-ray capturefraction by having multiple in-body detector portions 152, not just asingle detector portion associated with the emitter portion. With thedifferent embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, it is likely to be desired to limit dosagesof X-rays as applied to the at least the portion of the individual 82and/or the user (e.g., physician, dentist, veterinarian, assistant,researcher, etc.).

A variety of embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152 can beassociated with the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described at various locations in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152may be considered as functionally associated with the at least onedisplay portion 154, since the at least one display portion may beconfigured to display a version (which may be resized, filtered,scanned, computed, and/or otherwise modified) of what was detected bythe at least one detector portion.

Certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152 and/or theCompton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151, as included in certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, can be configured of various sizes, shapes,configurations, and may include a single detector portion or an array ofdetector portion elements. For example, those embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 utilizing a distinct detectorportion 152 and 154 as described with respect to FIG. 18 differ fromthose scintillator (and/or fluoroscope) embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly utilizing a combined detector anddisplay portion as described with respect to FIG. 20. The dimensions ofeach detector portion element and/or the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151 can be selected based on such criteria as thedesired application, usage, and/or the desired or designed Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingresolution.

A variety of depth visualizations, images, and/or provided informationincluding, but not limited to, tomography depth visualizations, images,and/or provided information can be constructed by scanning the X-raybeam received at the at least one detector portion 152 over a volume ofinterest of the at least the portion of the individual 82. As such, theat least one detector portion 152 may be considered as detecting theCompton scattered rays, with time-of-flight, spectral, and/or spatialresolution of the Compton scattered X-rays or other electromagneticradiation. Specific X-ray energies can be used by the at least onedetector portion to detect spectral features (e.g. absorption edges orfluorescence spectra) of specific X-rays received (e.g., Comptonscattered) from particular ones of the at least the portion of theindividual 82. The targeted portion of the individual can be at leastpartially endogenous, such as being produced from within the at leastthe portion of the individual (such as iron in blood, or calcium intumors). Alternately, the targeted portion can be at least partiallyexogenous such as being produced outside of the at least the portion ofthe individual (e.g. high-Z contrast agents that migrate, bind, or areotherwise introduced into regions of interest). The emitted flux, energylevel, or frequency of each X-ray photon can be tuned as to detectparticular structures, organs, materials, etc. at certain depths and/orregions, as being detected by the at least one detector portion 152.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider can thereby capture a series of depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information, in which the atleast one emitter portion and/or the at least one detector portion canoperate sequentially utilizing feedback by the user and/orvisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97. Suchcontrol and subsequent feedback can be used as to alter and/or controlthe relative position, angle, magnification, or other aspect of thesubsequent depth visualizations, images, and/or provided information.The initial depth visualizations, images, and/or provided informationthat have been captured can thereupon be displayed to the user at leastpartially using the at least one display portion 154 and/or the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. The location, magnification,angle, and/or other characteristics of the subsequent depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information can be determined,at least in part, from the results of the prior depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information based at least partially on userinput.

By allowing capturing of sequentially adjustable depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information, the users and/or individuals canobserve the at least the portion of the individual 82 as they maydesire. As such, the depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding being performed by the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be adjusted and/or controlled.Consider that with certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, a user such as aphysician, dentist, technician, assistant, etc. can obtain somepreliminary depth visualizations, images, and/or provided informationfrom certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider to locate a desired examining feature.Thereupon, the depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing canbe adjusted in subsequent images such as more closely or more accuratelyscan or examine at a desired location, angle, etc., such as to scan orexamine for a cancerous growth.

Alternately, the user can use some embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider to locate a desiredorgan or the at least the portion of the individual 82. Thereupon, theCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingas performed by certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be modified,altered, repositioned, magnified, etc. such as to more closely or moreaccurately examine some aspect of the desired examining feature at avariety of angles, positions, magnifications, etc. Each one of therespective at least one emitter portion 150, at least one detectorportion 152, at least one display portion 154, and/or the at least onecombined detector/display portion 155 (e.g., scintillator and/orfluoroscope), can be respectively fabricated and/or respectively formed.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, as described at a variety of locationsthrough this disclosure, may alternately be scintillator-based and/orfluoroscope-based. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may allow feedbacktechniques to allow users and/or visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97. Such feedback techniques may alter and/orcontrol Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding of subsequent depth visualizations, images, and/or providedinformation based at least in part on results or user input based onprior captured visualization, imaging, or information providing. Certainembodiments of the at least one Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151, including the at least one display portion 154 as combinedwith the at least one detector portion 152, can therefore be configuredas a scintillator and/or fluoroscope, as described with respect to FIG.20. With scintillator or fluoroscope embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly, X-ray photons can be converted toviewable and/or visible photons as described with respect to thisdisclosure.

Certain embodiments of the scintillators or fluoroscopes can beconfigured including a substance that can absorb such electromagneticradiation as X-rays, and thereupon can fluoresce, or otherwise providesuch as by Compton scattered X-ray or other imaging mechanism, viewableand/or visible light (viewable and/or visible photons) at acharacteristic X-ray frequency or energy level depending upon thereceived X-ray radiation. The fluorescing of the viewable and/or visiblelight may, as generally understood by those skilled in the art, beviewed as releasing the previously absorbed energy into or from theX-ray photons.

Certain embodiments of the at least one Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can therefore be configured toinclude scintillators and/or fluoroscopes can convert the scatteredX-rays directly to viewable and/or visible light, without associateddetectors and displays associated with certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Certain configurationsof conventional scintillators or fluoroscopes can be configured asoptical detectors, displays, Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing, etc. such as described with respectto U.S. Pat. No. 7,057,187 to Yun et al., entitled Scintillator OpticalSystem and Method of Manufacture (incorporated herein by reference inits entirety). Certain embodiments of scintillator can be used formedical depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing asdescribed with respect to U.S. Pat. No. 6,895,077 to Karellas et al.,entitled System and Method for X-Ray Fluoroscopic Imaging (incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety). Certain conventional CAT scannersutilize scintillator technology.

It is likely that the scintillator (and/or fluoroscope) embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 might be useful in screening the at least the portion of theindividual, perhaps at shallow depths and/or for homogeneous matter(using Compton or fluoroscopy techniques), for skin aberrations, such ascancers, tumors, lesions, etc. As such, the user might scan the usersfor such aberrations that might occur near the surface 168, and theimage processing associated with depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing such aberration with particular concern aboutprocessing Compton scattered X-rays Compton scattered X-ray at differentdepth being limited.

Certain scintillator (and/or fluoroscope) embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may becharacterized in this disclosure by the characteristics of theirviewable and/or visible photonic output. The characteristics of theirviewable and/or visible photonic output can include, but are not limitedto, e.g., strength, energy level, and/or frequency of emitted viewableand/or visible photons as a function of absorbed X-ray electromagneticradiation, fluorescence decay times, and/or optical transparency atwavelengths of their emitted viewable and/or visible electromagneticradiation and/or other such factors. Scintillators (and/or fluoroscopes)may thereby be considered as operating by translating X-rayelectromagnetic radiation into viewable and/or visible lightelectromagnetic radiation. As such, at least certain X-rays detected bythe at least one detector portion 152 may be viewed by the user (orindividual) without the necessity of at least one distinct displayportion(s) 154.

The lower the decay time of certain embodiments of the scintillatorand/or fluoroscopes (i.e., the shorter the duration of its flashes offluorescence), the less so-called “dead time” or delay the detectorportion will have and the more ionizing events per unit of time it willbe able to detect. The excited atoms can thereupon lose some of thisexcess energy resulting from the dead time by emitting some viewableand/or visible photons. The amount of viewable and/or visible lightproduced by the scintillator and/or fluoroscope (and thereby theintensity of viewable and/or visible light output by the displayportion) can, in certain embodiments, be amplified by a“photomultiplier” that is operationally included in the scintillatorand/or fluoroscope. Certain embodiments of the scintillator and/orfluoroscope of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described in this disclosure with respectto FIG. 20, can include the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 including a combined detector portion 152 and/or display portion154. Such combined embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 can visualize, image, and/or provide information based atleast in part on the received photons Compton scattered off the at leastthe portion of the individual.

The scintillator-based and/or fluoroscope-based embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be useful to provide real-time or near real time Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing of the at leastthe portion of the individual. Additionally, certain scintillator-basedand/or fluoroscope-based embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to beadjusted to alter subsequent Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing based on user or controller feedback,or other such aspects. For example, a region that is being visualized,imaged, or have information provided can be modified, angled, magnified,filtered, etc. such as to provide closer examination or Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing.Certain “scintillator” and/or fluoroscope embodiments of Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can becomputationally intensive, while other embodiments can view the imagedirectly. By angling the emission of the applied X-ray by the emitterportion 150, the reception of the scattered X-ray by the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 and/or the Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151, certain ambiguity as to the shape orconfigurations or aberrations, junctions, dissimilarities, etc. of thematter can be determined. Such angling, etc. can be provided eithervisually by the user, or by using image process techniques by thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97.

Certain scintillator and/or fluoroscope embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canthereby be fabricated from, and therefore include, certain materialswhich can “convert” an X-ray photon to a viewable and/or visible photon.Certain embodiments of scintillators and/or fluoroscopes can amplify arelatively weak photonic X-ray signal such as by utilizing aphotomultiplier (typically for each scintillator and/or fluoroscopeelement). One advantage of amplifying a relatively weak photonic signalis that an adequate depth visualization, image, or provided informationcan be obtained while subjecting the patient to a much lower dose ofX-rays. Certain embodiments of Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) may beassociated with certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion152 and/or the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Suchembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 may bereferred to in this disclosure as “scintillators” “fluoroscopes”, “filmscreens”, or “scintillation counters”. Certain embodiments ofscintillators and/or fluoroscopes may thereby be considered as directsemiconductor detector portions since they may not be largelycomputational-based to derive depth visualizations, images, and/orprovided information. Certain embodiments of scintillators and/orfluoroscopes can be generated using signal amplification or computeramplification techniques.

Certain exemplary embodiments of scintillators and/or fluoroscopes maybe configured as semiconductor detector portions 152, which may be basedon converting X-ray photons to electron-hole pairs in the semiconductor,and the electron-hole pairs are thereupon obtained to detect the X-rays.It may be is possible to directly determine the X-ray energy spectrumusing so-called called energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; and suchtechniques may additionally be used in small X-ray fluorescencespectrometers. These detector portions are sometimes called “soliddetectors”. Medical visualization, imaging, or information providingapplications of scintillators and/or fluoroscopes in can rely on theconcept that certain semiconductor diodes will thereby produce a smallamount of current when placed in an X-ray beam.

Certain types of silicon drift detectors (SDDs), such as may be producedby semiconductor fabrication, can provide a relatively high resolvingX-ray radiation detection measurement, and thereby be useful for certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151.Certain scintillators and/or fluoroscopes, when combined withsemiconductor detectors, can provide indirect detection of X-rayradiation. With the advent of large semiconductor array detectors it hasbecome possible to design detector systems using a scintillator and/orfluoroscope screen to convert from X-rays to viewable and/or visiblelight which is then converted to electrical signals in an arraydetector, such as may be used to provide visibility to the human eye.Such signal processing and image processing techniques as filtering,amplifying, resizing, etc. can be applied to scintillator-based and/orfluoroscope-based embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, such as to improve Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing.

Certain embodiments of the at least one emitter portion 150 can bedispersive such as to apply X-ray based electromagnetic radiation at theat least the portion of the individual 82; such as may thereupon bedetected by certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion152. As such, certain portions of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be associated withor include the emitter portion 150; while certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be associated with or include the at least one detector portion 152.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can therefore visualize, image, and/orprovide information relating to the at least the portion of theindividual that is physically separated from the surface 168 of the atleast the portion of the individual. Such visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can rely on image combination (e.g., imagesubtraction, time of flight, image transformation, deconvolution, imagesubtraction, weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, and groupincluding inverse integral transform, subtractive inverse integraltransform, inverse functional transform, and subtractive inversefunctional transform, or other such image processing techniques). Thequality of such Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can improve if the matter being imaged becomesmore consistent across the thickness of the imaged portion 352 (e.g.,horizontally across the thickness 352 as shown in FIG. 15). As such, asthe thickness 352 of the at least one prescribed visualization, imaging,or information providing depth becomes thinner, and its consistencyacross the thickness becomes more uniform, its depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing consistency generally increases andthe associated quality and/or reliability of the visualizing, imaging,or information providing quality generally increases.

Selection of a desirable or suitable thickness to image particularmatter (e.g. tissue, bones, teeth, etc.) within a particular type ofindividual may depend, at least in part, on empirical results. Forexample, scanning skin, muscle, or other tissue across, may be performedin relatively thick slices as compared with depth visualizing, imaging,or information providing bone parts, nodules, or other matter that has aconsiderable amount of void space or is inconsistent across its imagedthickness. Suitable data, information, visualizations, images, etc.pertaining at least partially to visualization, imaging, or informationproviding of certain types of matter can be stored in the Comptonvisualization, imaging, and/or information providing controller 97 (e.g.in a memory, database, or other suitable location), as described withrespect to FIG. 1. Or alternately, the visualization, imaging, orprovided information can be provided as a written reference to the usersand/or operators of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, such as could be accessed and/or set by theuser and/or operator.

There may be a variety of surgical applications of certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 that are now described with respect to FIGS. 24 and 25. Theparticular suitable applications for certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may bedependent upon the frequency, energy, or other characteristics of theapplied X-ray photons, as well as the energy level and frequency of theapplied X-ray photons can be used for the X-ray Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing. Certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100, for example, can be particularly suited or configured for treatmentand/or examination near the surface 168 such as skin of the at least theportion of the individual 82, with normal skin being illustrated in FIG.24. By comparison, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be particularlysuited or configured for treatment and/or examination of at least aportion of the individual; even if the portion of the matter beingvisualized, imaged, or information provided is spaced a considerabledepth distance from a surface into matter of the individual 82 (asillustrated in FIGS. 18 and 20). This may be the case for treatingperson wishing to examine or locate a particular individual's organ(s),bone(s), and/or other regions that may be situated subsurface utilizingthe at least one visualization, imaging, or information providing depthrange to the at least one prescribed visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth from the surface 168.

For example, certain Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be utilized to visualize, image, or provideinformation relating to some matter aberrations, such as to a tumor,tissue contour, etc. (such as may be useful to resect the visualized,imaged, or information provided aberration). Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be configured to control or adjust the at least one visualization,imaging, or information providing depth range to the at least oneprescribed visualization, imaging, or information providing depth duringresection of a tumor or aberrative matter. This may be accomplished byvarying the energy level, frequency, or other characteristics of theapplied X-ray photons (which may require reconfiguring of the at leastone emitter portion 150). Such resection can be accomplished in certaininstances by allowing the surgeon to visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to tissue margins of the tumor using certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 based on its differential density. Thedifferential density may, in certain instances, be either endogenous tothe tissue, or enhanced by a contrast agent which may not otherwise beviewable and/or visible using normal human visual observation.

This use of certain Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation providers 100 therefore could allow the surgeon to resect alesion, tumor, etc. while limiting harm and manipulation (or evenremoval) to adjacent healthy matter or tissue. This can be useful indepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing organs such as thebrain that are particularly sensitive to harm, manipulation, or removalof mater. Additionally, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 might beconfigured to allow the user (e.g., surgeon or assistant) to view theaberration of the matter at a number of different angles. By allowingthe viewing at different angles, etc., it may be easier for the user toappreciate the shape of the aberration, as well as its proximity toadjacent structures such as nerves, blood vessels, or other sensitive orother areas during particular operations or procedures. By limiting suchmanipulation, contact, or removal or sensitive matter during particularoperations and/or procedures, certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 mightlikely be configured or designed to perform more radical surgeries orprocedures (that might hurt the patient using other imaging techniques)than presently allowable.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to visualize, image,and/or provide information relating to the depth of certain layers ofthe at least the portion of the individual near the surface 168 (e.g.,skin) as described with respect to FIG. 24. This may used to examine orvisualize, image, and/or provide information relating to the depth ofaberrative matter such as tumors in skin as described with respect toFIG. 25. With certain conventional imaging techniques, boundaries and/ordepth from the surface 168 may not be clear between different types ofmatter (such as aberrative matter or tissue and normal matter or tissue,different types of cells, etc.). With X-ray based technologies, such ascertain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, certain types of aberrative matter such ascertain cancers, tumors, etc. can be detected as a result of theassociated calcification of the matter of the cancers, tumors, etc.

For example, it is likely that the calcified aberrative matter or tissueof such aberrative matter as breast cancer nodules in skin will absorb aconsiderable amount of the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation beingapplied as compared to the non-cancerous matter. As such, certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to indicate outlines, depths,regions, volumes, or other such aberrative matter based on aberrativeX-ray and/or photonic characteristics of the aberrative matter ascompared to the normal matter (e.g., tissue). Additionally, aberrativematter also may have different contrast enhancing properties from normalmatter. An example being a brain tumor can reduce the effectiveness ofthe blood brain barrier, and thereby absorb certain contrast agents tohave visualization, imaging, or information provided characteristicsunlike adjacent brain tissue.

Certain users using certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be used to moreeasily detect or visualize, image, and/or provide information relatingto certain aberrative matter, etc. Such ease of detection can allow formore easily location of a position, extent, depth, and/or other aspectsof the aberrative matter such as can enhance simplification oreffectiveness of examination, removal, and/or treatment thereof. Removalof certain aberrative matter can be performed using certain matterremoval techniques that may or may not be performed by certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider, or associated equipment, including but not limitedto: surgical cutting techniques, abrasive techniques, ablativetechniques (such as laser ablation), etc.

Consider that certain surgeons, doctors, veterinarians, dentist, etc.may wish to completely locate and remove all (or at least as much aspracticable), or only portion of a particular amount of such aberrationsas aberrative or undesired matter interspersed in normal matter ortissue (such as a tumor interspersed in tissue, a cavity interspersed ina tooth, etc.). For example, it may be desired to remove a melanoma(i.e., skin cancer) completely as described with respect to FIG. 25 (orother skin aberration), while leaving behind as much matter or tissue aspracticable.

As such, it may be necessary to visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to the aberrative matter (e.g., associated with themelanoma, tumor, etc.) one or more subsequent times such as to determineits precise extent. An initial visualization, imaging, or informationproviding scan may be useful in locating regions where certain matteraberrations such as melanomas may exist, and subsequent visualization,imaging, and/or information providing scans may be applied to eachpotential located aberration as to be useful in determining the depth orextent of each aberration. In addition, certain tomography type orvolumetric type embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be used to map or determine, asaccurately as practical or desirable, such aberrations, etc. Certainskin aberrations may include aberrative cells, colonies of cells,growths, or other dissimilar matter as compared to neighboring normalmatter, and the aberrative (e.g., cancerous) matter can be based atleast partially on the depth to which it has developed. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to determine a depth ofdissimilar matter feature within the at least one normal matter.

Additionally, a brain tumor might be suitable for being visualized,imaged, or information provided by certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,including those embodiments of surgical tools including the Comptonscattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager, tactile feedback provider, orinformation provider 100 that can resect the tumor. As such, the tumorcan be resected, with limited adjacent brain tissue that is notinfiltrated with tumor effected by the resection. A low grade glioma isone example of a tumors which the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may assist in visuallydifferentiating.

If the feature of an aberration or dissimilar mater, such as a tumor,cancerous matter, tooth decay, etc. is not removed completely, theaberration may continue to grow. Such aberrations as cancer or tumorsmay even grow uncontrollably, and even metastasize. The surgeon may notbe able to determine the depth from a visual inspection or even one-timeimaging techniques that use certain conventional imagers. An aberrativegrowth could be quickly examined, and the depth of the aberrative growthcould be reliably determined by a skilled user utilizing certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. A dissimilar matter representing an aberrationsuch as a melanoma, if not treated and/or removed in time, may therebygrow to an extent to be dangerous or even fatal.

The depth of certain matter aberrations such as melanomas may correspondto their seriousness. For example, if a melanoma has reached below aparticular depth 362 as described with respect to FIG. 25, then theprobability that it has metastasized may increase considerably. As such,there are a variety of medical situations that vital information as tothe seriousness of a patient's condition could be obtained relativelyand accurately using certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. By utilizing a seriesof successive images, such aberrations or abnoramlities as melanomascould be examined from a variety of angles, magnifications, and/orpositions such as to make certain of their extent. It is likely that atleast certain melanomas, breast cancers, other tumors or cancers, etc.can be imaged relative to adjacent matter either based on differentdensities of the dissimilar matter or alternately using certain contrastagent and/or fluoroscopy techniques.

As such, FIG. 24 shows an example of a partial cross-sectional view ofnormal matter such as skin; while matter such as skin including adissimilar matter a melanoma is shown in FIG. 25. Normal skin, forexample, is typically made up of layers, including the epidermis 370 andthe dermis 372. As illustrated in FIG. 25, a skin aberration or tumorsuch as a melanoma 360 can develop within the skin, and can be measuredby a number of quantitative systems, two of which are referred to as“Breslow Depth” and “Clark's Levels”. Breslow Depth quantifies thetop-to-bottom measurement of the melanoma in millimeters, similar to asshown by the arrow 362 in FIG. 25. By comparison, Clark's Levelsdescribe how far the melanoma has extended into the particular layers ofthe skin. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as described in this disclosure,can therefore be used to determine the characteristics of a melanomausing the Breslow Depth and/or the Clark's Level. Certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 as can be applied to aberrative matter, such as tumors such asmelanomas, are intended to be illustrative in nature but not limiting inscope. Determination of a suitable matter thickness or slice thicknessfor Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding may pertain to the likely presence or absence of matteraberrations or other matter abnormalities or matter inconsistencies.

As such, by viewing a matter aberration such as a tumor or cancer at anumber of angles, positions, magnifications, etc. using certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described with respect to FIG. 25, it islikely that the true extent, depth, and condition of their growth can bedetermined. Such re-examination or subsequent Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing of the at least theportion of the individual 82 can be performed at a desired angle,position, etc. Such re-examination can be based or selected, at least inpart, on input from the user, the individual, or a controller orcomputerized portion such as to closely examine those regions ofinterest under a suitable magnification, angle, position, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can rely on advantages of X-ray technology.X-ray technology provides advantages of being well developed,researched, understood, trusted, etc. X-ray technology can be lessexpensive than certain other visualization, imaging, or informationproviding technologies. While certain aspects of X-ray Compton scatteredX-ray technology may be less developed than conventional X-ray (e.g.,transmissive) technologies, both types of X-ray technologies can beutilized in a variety of medical or non-medical applications including,but not limited to, medical, examination, surgery, geological, security,structural, and other technologies.

By allowing subsequent controllable Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing as is the case withcertain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 as described in this disclosure, the userssuch as physicians, surgeons, dentists, etc. can interactively examinethe at least the portion of the individual 82, in a manner as desired.For example, after a desired at least the portion of the individual 82is located by an initial visualization, imaging, and/or informationproviding scan, subsequent Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing scan(s) can further or more closelyexamine the located portion. With certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider, the atleast the portion of the individual with at least part of their bodypart being examined can interactively visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to their condition using subsequent Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing if theoutput/display is provided to the at least the portion of the individual82. Such subsequent Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can be performed on a variety of matter in the atleast the portion of the individual.

As with a variety of radiographic visualization, imaging, or informationproviding techniques, and particularly those utilizing X-rays, it isimportant to consider the dosage effects of certain electromagneticradiation provided by the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 to the at least the portion of the individualand/or the user. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can visualize, image,and/or provide information relating to a series of depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information sequentially, on a real time basis,at a variety of resolutions, or over a large or small portion of theindividual. By judicious Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing using certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, theradiation doses as applied to the at least the portion of the individualand/or the user can be limited considerably, particularly as comparedwith many conventional X-ray imaging modalities.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 are configured to image by allowing X-raysto pass into, scatter from, and return from a localized organ, matter,etc. Conventional transmissive X-ray devices, by comparison, typicallypass through the entire thickness of the at least the portion of theindividual being imaged. For example, certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured by Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing a first general area, and thereupon depending uponthe initial visualization, image, or provided information. A relativelyminor number of visualizations, images, and/or provided information(perhaps localized to small regions) can be examined to consider inconsiderable degree, for example, one or more regions of interest thathave been located by the initial depth interest. Such subsequent depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information may be configured tolimit exposure of the at least the portion of the individual or the userto the doses of the original depth visualizations, images, and/orprovided information.

By allowing subsequent Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing with certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, thecondition of the at least the portion of the individual may be clearlyimaged and/or examined to determine the condition of the at least theportion of the individual. In certain instances, perhaps less drastictreatment (e.g. radiation therapy, chemotherapy) and/or less imaging,visualizing, and/or tests may need to be applied to the at least theportion of the individual based on the more complete or accuratevisualization, imaging, or provided information results. Such resultsmay be obtained by (or the relatively precise locating, visualizing,and/or imaging of) certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. In certain instances,perhaps the growths, once clearly examined, can be more accuratelytreated such as by direct treatment of the relevant location, ablation,etc.

A variety of X-ray based electromagnetic radiation (applied,returning/reflected, etc.) can be utilized for Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing purposes whenvisualization, imaging, or information providing the at least theportion of the individual. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described withrespect to this disclosure, the emitter portion 150 can apply an appliedX-ray 120 to the at least the portion of the individual. FIG. 18 showsone representative embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider applying the X-ray (photonic-basedelectromagnetic radiation) down to the at least one substantiallyscattered depth range to the at least one prescribed substantiallyscattered depth within the at least the portion of the individual 82(e.g., human, shown in cross section).

Certain embodiments of the at least one emitter portion 150 can therebybe positioned relative to the at least the portion of the individual 82,either at least partially internally or at last partially externally tothe individual. Certain embodiments of the at least one emitter portioncan be configurable to emit the applied X-ray 120 for a controllabledepth into the matter of the at least the portion of the individual 82.The subsequent Compton scattered X-ray (scattered from the appliedX-ray) can be detected by the at least one detector portion 152 and/orthe at least one display portion. The visualization, imaging, and/orprovided information relating to information can thereby be derived atleast partially in response to Compton scattered X-ray of the X-raybased electromagnetic radiation.

The emitter portion 150 of certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configuredto generate at least some of the applied X-ray 120, that can be appliedand/or directed to the at least the portion of the individual 82. Someof the applied X-ray 120 can be applied by the at least one emitterportion 150 such as to at least partially penetrate into the at leastthe portion of the individual. During such instances as when penetratinginto matter of the at least the portion of the individual 82, the X-raybased electromagnetic radiation of the applied X-ray can be at leastpartially deflected, at least partially Compton scattered, and/or atleast partially passed through the at least the portion of theindividual 82. Compton scattered X-ray (backscatter, forward scatter, orother) of at least some of the applied X-rays can provide at least someof the Compton scattered X-ray 122 which can be detected by certainembodiments of the at least one detector portion 152, and/or the atleast one Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151.

Certain examples of the other matter that can effect the Comptonscattered X-ray can include, for example: tissue, bones, portions ofbones, metal, etc. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be configured forCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingmatter not normally associated with X-ray Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing. Such would be the casewith locating interfaces between two different types of matterincluding, but not limited to: “normal” or “regular” opaque matter (suchas tissue), as compared with other aberration matter.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to combine visualization,imaging, or information providing at least partially by combininginformation obtained from the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 with image information from anothersource (e.g., MRI, conventional X-rays, other Compton scattering-basedsystems or portions thereof, other embodiments of the Compton scatteredx-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, etc.). Suchcombinations may take the form or function, for example, of depth,position, varying depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingmodalities, etc.; and may include previously gathered depth visualizinginformation.

Certain of such combined embodiments of Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be useful forinstance where the imaging capabilities of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be more limited suchas to produce a real-time visualization, imaging, or informationproviding, and thereupon integrating more detail imaging from otherimaging modalities. Although certain aspects of the visualization,images, or provided information of particular matter such as tissue,organs, bones, or other portions of the individuals may not preciselymatch between certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 and the otherconventional visualization, imaging, or information providingmodalities, it is likely that each modality could be expected to beparticularly useful for particular applications, illnesses, injuries,etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 may also be configured as to be able tovisualize, image, or provide information at a suitable rate consideringthe matter being imaged and/or the ability of the user to be able toview the distortions. There might be a variety of distortions of thematter which may be particularly useful to visualize, image, or provideinformation. For example, certain surgeons might be particularlyinterested in considering the rate at which the heart beating causesdeformation of the heart muscle, or alters blood flow through portionsof the heart such as the aorta, valves, etc. By comparison, othersurgeons may be interested in considering somewhat slower motion oftheir patients, such as how changes in the body position (e.g., leg orarm position) may be reflected in variation in the associated skeletalbones between successive depth visualization, imaging, or providinginformation. Certain dentists or orthodontists might be interested inhow movement of the jaw can be reflected by changes in the bite of theteeth of their patients.

As described with respect to FIG. 18, certain embodiments of the emitterportion 150 can apply at least one applied X-ray 120 at a desired, orcontrollable, angle. The depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding angle of the applied X-ray radiation may range from almostparallel, but still incident, to a surface 168 of the at least theportion of the individual 82, to substantially perpendicular to thesurface 168 of the at least the portion of the individual 82, and anyangle there between). The characteristics of the applied X-ray mayinclude, but are not limited to, a suitable and/or desired position,power, frequency, energy level, duration, as well as a variety of othersuch characteristics.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to include at least onedetector portion 152 and/or display portion 154 that can be operable tobe at least partially inserted into the at least the portion of theindividual. Such configurations can be used to receive at least oneCompton scattered X-ray that has been Compton scattered in an at leastone opaque matter of the at least the portion of the individual. Certainembodiments of the detector portion can be configured to be adjustable,alignable, scannable, or otherwise modifiable; and may include suchscopes as endoscopes that may alternately be inserted through insertionor normally open opening of the individual as is generally understood bythe use of an endoscope.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 might preferably be configured as combined detector portion/displayportions as described in this disclosure, such that the visualizer,imager, and/or information provider might suitably change as the usermoves their vantage point, etc. relative to the at least the portion ofthe individual. It may be desired to reduce or limit the involvedcomputation associated with depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding. By comparison, those embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 involved in depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing relatively deep into theat least the portion of the individual may include the distinct detectorportions and display portions. Additionally, certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be applied in the at least one visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth range to the at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth relatively nearthe surface 168. Recall that such image combining may utilize imagesubtraction, time of flight, image transformation, deconvolution, imagesubtraction, weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, and groupincluding inverse integral transform, subtractive inverse integraltransform, inverse functional transform, and subtractive inversefunctional transform, or other such image processing techniques. Suchdistinct detector portions and display portions may be configured tocomputationally differentiate images, visualizations, information, etc.using certain image information. Additionally, such computationallycomplex visualization, imaging, or information providing displays astime of flight embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 (or high resolution displayportions) may benefit from the distinct detector portions and displayportions, which may also simplify the associated image processing. Thesedesign choices are intended to be illustrative in nature, but notlimiting in scope.

Certain embodiments of the detector portion 152 may be situated withinthe at least the portion of the individual 82, adjacent to the at leastthe portion of the individual 82, or external to the at least theportion of the individual 82. Either one detector portion 152, or aplurality of detector portions, may be provided either within the atleast the portion of the individual 82, adjacent to the at least theportion of the individual 82, and/or external to the at least theportion of the individual 82.

Within this disclosure, certain embodiments of the at least one displayportion 154 can be configured to display the X-ray based electromagneticradiation such as it has at least been partially received from the atleast the portion of the individual 82 by the at least one detectorportion. As such, certain embodiments of the at least one displayportion 154 can be configured to display X-ray illumination that can beCompton scattered at least partially from the at least the portion ofthe individual 82. Such Compton scattered X-ray illumination can bebased on the Compton scattered X-ray based electromagnetic radiationthat can be detected by the at least one detector portion 152.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 can include a variety of the at least one display portion 154.Certain embodiments of the display portion 154 can take a variety offorms that can include, but are not limited to: a cathode ray tube (CRT)display portion, a liquid crystal display portion (LCD) display portion,a personal display or information provider portion (configured todisplay to one person), a glasses-based display portion, a group displayor information provider portion (that can display depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information to more than one person), a plasmadisplay portion, a medical display portion, a computer display portion,a personal display assistant (PDA) display portion, or such otherdisplays that can at least partially provide a display of at least theportion of the individual based at least in part on the Comptonscattered X-rays 122.

The selection as to whether the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 includes distinct detector portions and display portions,or combined detector portion/display portions can be based at leastpartially based on functionality and/or desired computation. Forexample, certain Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing applications involving depth imaging, visualizing,or providing information from the surface 168 to the at least onevisualization, imaging, or information providing depth range to the atleast one prescribed visualization, imaging, or information providingdepth.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 may be configured as surgeon's glasses, or other configuration, asillustrated in FIG. 26. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configuredas personal devices, which can thereby be used primarily by one person.By comparison, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be used as groupdevices such as can be used by two or more persons or users.Particularly, FIG. 26 shows one embodiment of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 including anembodiment of the at least one display portion 154 configured as apersonal display (in this instance, surgeon glasses, dentist glasses,veterinarian glasses, etc.), as described in this disclosure. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby be configured as augmented visionglasses. For instance, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can utilizeglasses, such as can be worn by surgeons in which at least a portion ofthe glasses can be configured as a display, such display portion couldbe viewed by the user. Certain embodiments of the visualizing, imaging,or information provided as provided by certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be optically aligned to the user. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 cantherefore be configured as an X-ray backscatter device is used todeliver a real-time 2D or 3D depth visualization, image, or informationto the surgeon. The depth visualizations or images can be presented tothe surgeon by means of an external monitor, head-mounted display, orstereoscopic projection. The surgeon can select the depth (frommillimeters to substantially through the visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided portion of the individual 82) at which thevisualization, image, or provided information is taken, captured, etc.;the selected depth can be targeted by tuning the intensity, energylevel, or frequency of the X-ray photons in the X-ray beam.

There may be a variety of configurations and/or utilizations of certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. For example, certain personalized embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can present depth visualization, image, or information toat least one person particularly associated with the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider, similar to asdescribed with respect to FIG. 26. Certain personalized embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can be configured to be worn as personal devices, such that each ofthe at least the portion of the individual 82 can obtain the depthvisualization, image, or information of the at least the portion of theindividual 82 in a manner similar to glasses. For instance, in theembodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described with respect to FIG. 26, theemitter portion 150 can be situated proximate the glasses-basedembodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 (e.g., on the frame); adhered to the user at aremote location from the glasses (e.g., on cloth, clothes, fabric,metal, or other material); or alternatively situated at a remotelocation from the user.

Certain embodiments of the detector portion 152 of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described withrespect to FIG. 26, can thereby be described as surgeons' glasses. Theterm “surgeon's glasses” is intended to be illustrative and not limitingsince these devices can be worn by the user and illustratevisualizations and/or images, as well as provide information, to theuser or other person. Certain surgical glass embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may ormay not contain optical glasses at all. Certain surgical glasses areunderstood to perhaps include an additional display portion (which mayfunction as typical optical glasses) such as can be viewed by a surgeon,or alternatively may be provided as only a frame without the opticalglasses. Certain embodiments of the surgical glasses, can include, forexample, at least one liquid crystal display (LCD), at least one lightemitting diode (LED) or an embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151 that can be secured by a variety of mechanisms tonearby are to the user, such as can be viewed by the user. Withsurgeon's glasses, a variety of display portions can be provided tosurgeons, etc. through a portion of glasses, while other portions of theglasses allow the surgeon to see during the operation.

By comparison, a number of embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could include at leastone display portion 154 can be configured as a group display orinformation provider portion. For example, FIG. 27 illustrates aninstance in which a number of users could view selected portion(s) ofthe individual through a group display 154, as described in thisdisclosure such as could be viewed by a number of users. For instance,the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can include an LCD display portion, a CRT display portion, atelevision display portion, a medical display portion, or otherapplicable embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider.

Certain of the applied X-ray 120, that are generated and/or applied tothe at least the portion of the individual 82 by certain embodiments ofthe emitter portion 150, may thereupon after at least partially passinginto the at least the portion of the individual 82 be subsequentlyCompton scattered and/or deflected. Such Compton scattering and/ordeflection can thereupon be detected by the at least one detectorportion 152, as described with respect to FIG. 1. Certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100, can include a considerable number of detector portions 152positioned, for example, around an operation or examination room inwhich the individual 82 is situated. The particular arrangement of anumber of the emitter portions 150 is largely considered to be a designchoice.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to be adjustable, tunable,and/or controllable. Such adjustability, tunability, and/orcontrollability can be used to adjust the energy level or frequency ofthe X-ray photons of the applied X-rays; and thereby affect the depth ofCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding, into the at least some matter of the at least the portion ofthe individual. Certain external embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be configuredto be non-contact, with an emitter portion 150 probe and/or detectorportion 152 probe that does not contact the surface 168 of the matter ofthe at least the portion of the individual. Other embodimentsadjustable, tunable, and/or controllable do permit contact of theemitter portion 150 probe and/or detector portion 152 probe with thematter of the at least the portion of the individual. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide a number of modalities of depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing (traditional X-rayimages, Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding, etc.) including, but not limited to, density and elementaldepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing mode. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to provide considerablecontrast, and thereby may be less dependent on such variables as userskill in depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing, etc.

Different versions of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to combine image informationwith that being performed by different imagers that can produce imagesin one or a variety of different formats and configurations. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be applied externally or internally, suchas described relative to certain locations in this disclosure. Certainexternal configurations of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can utilize either full-bodytomography imaging enclosures or partial body tomography imagingenclosures, similar to as generally used during MRIs, CAT scans, PETscans, etc. By comparison, certain embodiments of the at least oneemitter portion(s) 151 for certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be positionedaround the room where the individual is situated. Such configurationscan be configured to improve the application of the applied X-rays 120towards the at least the portion of the individual being imaged. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider could used to obtain a CAT-grade or PET-gradetomography scan, based at least in part on the configuration andstructure of the at least one emitter portions 150 and/or the at leastone Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 may be configured to provide depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing flexibility, as well asto conform to the at least the portion of the individual being imaged asdescribed with respect to FIG. 28. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beattached to a flexible securing member (perhaps even being attached tothe individual using belts, Velcro, straps, or some other knownfastener), such as can be used to limit relative displacements betweenthe visualizing components and the at least the portion of theindividual. For example, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configuredas a fabric or jointed sleeve that can be at least partially tied to,worn by, or attached to surround the at least part of the patient, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 28. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider can beembedded in, or attached to, clothing, fabric, or other material thatcan be made distinctly for each individual, or can be used by a numberof individuals. Such flexible attachment members may be especiallydesirable for monitoring or examining, or otherwise visualizing,imaging, or providing information relating to particular portion ororgan of the individual, such as the heart, brain, or other organs,tissue, or other matter.

For example, at least portions of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be applied tosecuring elements which can be maintained or secured with respect to theat least the portion of the individual. Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be flexibly applied to a more extensive portion of the individualsuch as the torso; or a smaller portion of the individual such as anarm, leg, finger, etc. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can at leastpartially include a sleeve or other flexible portion that at leastpartially be affixed to and/or surrounds the individual. For example,certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to limit relative motionbetween at least one portion of the at least one Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151 relative to the at least the portion of theindividual. By limiting the relative motion between the at least oneemitter portion 150 and/or the at least Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151 with respect to the at least the portion of theindividual, a number of aspects of depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing can be improved, such as clarity and perhapsimproved resolution.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to act as a shield tolimit transmission of X-rays outside of the at least the portion of theindividual. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 (particularly thoseflexible configurations as described with respect to FIG. 28) can beconfigured to include X-ray shielding material to shield users and/orindividuals from the X-rays. Consider that the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 as described in thisdisclosure could include an X-ray shielding material such as could limitexcessive stray X-rays from passing away towards the user such as adoctor, veterinarian, etc. Such users may be exposed to a higher totaldosage of X-rays after depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding a number of individual patients, etc., as compared with theindividuals who are seldom imaged. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may alsoshield at least some of the X-rays from passing to the at least theportion of the individual. In certain instances, such shielding may beremovable, replaceable, and/or shiftable such as to shield at leastcertain portions of the individual at one or more locations depending onwhich emitter portions 150 and/or detector portions 152 are beingutilized.

Certain embodiments of the at least one emitter portion 150 and/or theat least one detector portion 152 can thereby be configured as ahand-held and positional device as described with respect to FIG. 29such as can be positioned and/or used by the user, the individual, oranother person. Is envisioned that at least portions of certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured similar to a computer mouse(e.g., in dimension and/or position), such as to allow a user toposition the device from a useful (and/or non-obstructive)user-selectable vantage point relative to the individual. Certainhand-held devices can transmit data to other detector or displaydevices, such as can be displayed over displays, glasses, plasma, or avariety of at least portions of certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151.

Certain portable or repositionable embodiments of at least portions ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can utilize wireless and/or wired-based communications relative toother controller and/or computer portions associated therewith to effectdata transfer, image transfer, etc. Alternately, certain embodiments ofthe constant scattered X-ray visualized, imaged, or information provided100 can include the display and/or simulator as to provide forvisualization, imaging, and/or provide information directly there from.Certain user-selectable positionable Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 could be securable in position bysome securement or locking structure relative to the matter of the atleast the portion of the individual. Such securement or fastenertechniques can be used to limit excessive motion of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 relativeto the at least the portion of the individual and/or improve depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing capability or quality ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider.As such, the emitter portion could be positioned and located as desired.Certain embodiments of the emitter portion 150 could include a mountthat might hold the emitter portion 150 in position, such as might limitthe displacements of the emitter portion to improve the Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingcapabilities of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. By providing a hand-held and/or positionabledevice, certain users can obtain a desired depth visualization or imageat a desired location without while the remainder of the user remains ina desired viewing or other position and/or location.

With certain hand-held positionable embodiment of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, relatively quickfeedback rates may be particularly desirable for Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing. Certain hand-held,positionable, or movable devices may also be useful in providing Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing at avariety of locations and/or angles of the individual such as may becontrolled or adjusted by the user, the individual, a machine (e.g.,robot), or an other person.

The emitter portion 150 and/or detector portion 152 can thereby beconfigured as a remote device, or even a movable device such as can be ahand-held device (perhaps similar in size or shape as a computer mouse,or a digital camera as described with respect to FIG. 29). Such movable,frame secured, securable, or other embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can therebyprovide applied X-rays and/or receive scattered X-rays from desired orcontrollable positionable locations. For instance, a doctor couldposition certain embodiments of the emitter portion adjacent the atleast the portion of the individual 82, such that particular subsurfaceregions of the at least the portion of the individual can be illuminatedby or receive the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation adjacent the atleast the portion of the individual 82. Such controllability orpositionability of visualizing, imaging, or information providing can beperformed in a similar manner as a user of a flashlight might apply theflashlight to certain locations to optionally illuminate particularregions at which the flashlight is directed. Similarly, a physicianmight position the at least one detector portion 152 in close proximityto the portion(s) of the individual being visualized, imaged, orinformation provided. By comparison, certain embodiments of the emitterportion can be configured as applying a relatively disperse X-ray sourcethat can generally apply X-rays to against large regions (or at leastregions of interest) of the at least the portion of the individual 82.Different embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 (i.e., surgeon positioning and/or region ofroom filling embodiments of the at least one emitter portion 150, etc.)can be used separately or in combination, and are intended to beillustrative in nature but not limiting in scope.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 and/or the display can be positioned in close proximity to the atleast the portion of the individual, as described with respect to FIG.30. For example, the at least one Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 that is Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing a bone in a forearm may be positioned adjacent theforearm, perhaps even in a position that may be viewable by the userand/or the user. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can utilize at least onefiducial 1052 to assist in locating the visualized, imaged, orinformation provided portion. The embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151 as described with respect to FIG. 31 can beconfigured for depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingrelatively deep portions of the individual, such as skeletal systems,organs, certain internal blood vessels, etc. It is likely that suchembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that act deep into the matter of the individualcan also apply the applied X-rays including at least some X-ray photonshaving sufficient energy level that can pass deep into the individual.Such deep visualizing, imaging, or information providing would likelyutilize the image processing techniques as described with respect toFIGS. 18 and 19, for example.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, as described with respect to FIGS. 30 and31, can include a framework 3010 and be configured such as to contain atleast the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 (not shown inthese figures). Certain embodiments of the framework can be used to bepositioned by the user, or secured by a securing device (rigid frame,arm, flexible belt, strap, or other).

Certain embodiments of the entire Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 as described with respect to FIG. 1can therefore be configured as a single unitary member utilizing similartechnology as is known in graphical user interface (GUI), display, andcontroller technology such as to integrate all the portions of devicesinto combined units. By comparison, certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured as distinct units, only certain ones of which may includetheir distinct framework 3010 if desired, or practicable. There are avariety of potential advantages to frameworks which include, but are notlimited to, allowing a user to hold or providing a securement point(certain ones of which can be adjusted and controlled) to at leastcertain portions of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100.

Certain conventional transmissive X-rays can image three-dimensionalmatter across the extent of the portion of the person to atwo-dimensional image. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, by imaging atwo-dimensional slice of the individual (e.g., imaging through thebone), might be particularly useful in visualizing, imaging, orproviding information pertaining to the individual for orthopedics,knees, bones, joints, organs, and other structural aspects of theindividual.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered x-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to operate based at leastin part on tomography. Tomography can be based, at least partially, onobtaining at least one material characterizing distribution function.Within this disclosure, the material characterizing distributionfunction can be considered as a measurement of electron density, whichmore or less corresponds to the density of the matter. As such, avariety of visualizations, images, or provided information of at leastsome matter of at least the portion of the individual based at leastupon the material characterizing distribution function. Conventionaltomography, such as CAT scan, PET scan, etc. may rely upon obtaining atleast some type of distribution function. Those electrons of the outershells of the matter, thereby are loosely held to the molecule, in sucha manner to quantifiably correspond largely to the materialcharacterizing distribution function. By comparison, those electrons ofthe inner shell of the matter thereby are more securely held to themolecule, and therefore correspond to a lesser degree to the materialcharacterizing distribution function.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 can receive a number of Compton scattered X-ray in such a mannerthat there exists a number of uncertainties as to certaincharacteristics (e.g., in density, mass, structure, component, etc.) ofthe matter. For example, a particular Compton scattered x-ray receivingassembly 151 that receives scattered X-rays from a specific angle and/orposition may receive a large number of scattered x-rays that correspondto that angle and/or position, corresponding to the materialcharacterizing distribution function. They may be, for example, no wayto differentiate between scattered X-rays from a number of differentdepths that correspond to a given angle and/or position within the atleast some matter of the at least some portion of the individual, uponconsideration of the material characterizing distribution function.Conventional tomography can similarly utilizes a material characterizingdistribution function.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can capture a visualization, image, orprovided information based on a number of material characterizingdistribution function that are obtained from a number of positions,angles, etc. For example, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can utilize thematerial characterizing distribution function obtained when applying anapplied X-ray substantially through a considerable portion of theindividual that are forward scattered, similar to as described relativeto FIG. 5, for example, and other locations through this disclosure.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can utilize the material characterizingdistribution function obtained when applying an applied X-raysubstantially through a considerable portion of the individual that canthereupon be back scattered, forward scattered, or otherwise Comptonscattered similar to as described relative to FIG. 4, for example, andother locations through this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can differentiate between scattered X-raysfrom different scattering locations and/or angles, based at leastpartially on tomographic/volumatric considerations. Certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can differentiate between scattered X-rays from differentenergy levels, based at least partially on tomographic considerations.

The embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that are secured to the at least the portion ofthe individual, using a sleeve or other such mechanism, will likely bepreferred by individuals undergoing imaging as compared with certain MRIimages, CAT scans, tomography imagers, and/or other conventional imagersin which the patient is expected to remain substantially motionless. Inaddition, certain conventional tomography imaging techniques requirepositioning of the individual in a claustiphobic tube during therelatively extended duration.

Certain types of tomography imagers (both conventional and included ascertain embodiments of Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100), may tend to be quite computer-software andprocessor intensive. Much of the work by the computer software,hardware, or firmware is associated with repositioning, focusing,zooming, angling, refreshing, and other controlling and adjustingaspects of the displayed visualization, image, or provided information.Certain of the depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingcomponents of certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be indexed relativeto the portion of the individual. Such indexing can be performed suchthat if a region of interest (e.g., a cancer node) is located, thelocation can be determined relative to the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, such as by longitude orlatitude markings on the sleeve in certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Certaininstances of such visualization, imaging, or information providing canbe provided on a real time (or near real time) basis.

A considerable portion of this disclosure describes applying Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information providers to image tolocate, analyze, and/or treat a variety of aberrations such as cancers.It is also envisioned that a number of embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beapplied to a variety of surgical, medical examination, medicaldiagnosis, medical forensics, autopsies and other such applications.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 may visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to blood that can be configured to provide highcontrast with this technique since it has iron and backscattersconsiderably.

As such, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider may be particularly appropriate forbrain Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding and/or surgery, heart Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing and/or surgery, lung Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing and/or surgery,etc. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be configured to examineaberrations of such dissimilar matter such as calcium concentration ofportions of matter for Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing or examination for breast tumors, iodine forthyroid Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding or examination. Additionally, certain contrast agents may beused to enhance the contrast for Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing, for example iodine in blood vessels.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can include a relatively weak powered X-raybased emitter portion 150, such that much of the X-rays generatedtherefrom may not be transmitted through the at least the portion of theindividual. Such relatively weak powered X-ray emitter portions 150 maybe desirable since they limit the dosage being applied to the at leastthe portion of the individual, as well as others near the individualsuch as the user.

There are a number of Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing techniques that can be utilized by certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, each of which should consider limiting theoverall dosage of X-rays being applied to the at least the portion ofthe individual and/or other persons. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to operate on a temporal/positional reflective basis. Thismay, depending on context, be considered as Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing at a rate sufficient toindicate accurately the current position of the portion of theindividual 82 undergoing Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing (considering the intended purpose of the atleast one visualization, image, or provided information).

Real time depth imaging, visualizing, or information providing, and nearreal time depth imaging, visualizing, or information providing may beconsidered as one embodiment of temporal/positional reflective depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing. As such,temporal/positional visualization, imaging, or information providing bycertain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can involve updating of Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing within such aduration as to accurately reflect a state of the at least the portion ofthe individual 82. By using certain types of temporal/positionalreflective visualization, imaging, or information providing usingcertain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider, certain users may be able to locate a region,organ, etc. within the at least the portion of the individual eithermanually or using a tool. Examples of such tools as described in thisdisclosure can include, but are not limited to, an endoscope attachment,a tactile feedback provider, an attachment to a framework, etc.

As such, certain embodiments of the X-ray Compton scattered X-rayinformation can be utilized or operated by the user and/or theindividual on a substantially temporal/positional reflective basis. Atthe time of operation, Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing and/or visualize, image, and/or provideinformation updating can be performed at a substantiallytemporal/positional reflective basis. Alternatively, certain Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing and/orvisualize, image, and/or provide information updating could be performedsequentially a number of times, or only one or more times using certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100.

A number of illustrative but not limiting applications of temporal depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing by certain embodiments ofthe subcutaneous Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 are now described. One application of temporaldepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing by certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could include functional brain depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing or functional tomography,in which certain regions of brain activation may be reflected withincreases in blood flow. This type of depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing could be used during brain surgeries to detect anarea associated with a given cognitive action or sensory stimulation bymonitoring or detecting alterations in blood flow. Another applicationof temporal depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing bycertain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 would include vascular surgery. Whether thevascular surgery be for clipping an aneurysm or creating a vasculargraft, one could use the subcutaneous Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to detect alterations inblood flow in the brain, heart, liver, or other organ, tissue, or regionof the individual.

Yet another depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingapplication of certain embodiments of the subcutaneous Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could includeimplantation of orthopedic instrumentation. A user such as a surgeoncould image, examine, and/or utilized the implant during installation toensure that it is being installed properly. As such, the user couldinsure the implant is not being positioned are located in properly or inthe wrong place during attachment or securement. Dentists couldsimilarly image, examine, and/or utilize images relating to their dentalwork. An example of such installation-based Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing might includeinstalling a pedicle screw to be used in a spinal construct and/orplate. Certain embodiments of the subcutaneous Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may be used to ensurethe screw has not breached and gone into the spinal canal, oralternately exited to hit a blood vessel, a nerve root, or anothersensitive region. Certain embodiments of the subcutaneous Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 couldthereby help watch the implant placement progression.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be applied to different individuals suchas a variety of humans of different conditions, sexes, ages (e.g., ahuman adult, child, or embryo), etc. Additionally, certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be applied to at least one other non-human individuals82 including, but not limited to: at least one animal (domestic,wildlife, livestock as described with respect to FIGS. 32 and 33), atleast one organism (natural or synthetic, such as can be visualized,imaged, or have information provided for medical, scientific, clinicalor other purposes), at least one plant, etc. By Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing animals such as pets,wild animals, or livestock, for example, certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can obtain useful information thereabout, without the necessity of theuser having to come into close contact, or only limited contact, withthe animal. Such users who often have to come in contact with animalsmight include, but are not limited to: veterinarian, wildlife managers,zookeepers, other people associated with wild or domestic animals, etc.Such close contact is also possible during use by certain Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingembodiments. In addition, such Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing can be done relatively routinely, orin a non-evident manner, such as to make scanning the animals, or arelatively large number of animals, relatively easy without themnecessarily being aware of the depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing. Such depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding of certain animals may preferably be performed in a mannerthat reduces the animal's awareness that anything unusual is occurring,such as may easily be accomplished using certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,

The above-mentioned components or embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described withrespect to FIG. 1 as well as in other locations in this disclosure,could be distributed or operated outside, in a forest, etc. Suchconfigurations could allow Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing of wild animals (perhaps controlledand/or adjusted by remote control), livestock, fish, etc. Suchembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could be useful in detecting illnesses,injuries, etc. in wildlife, whales, dolphins, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be applied to animals such pets,livestock, wild animals, aquatic animals and fish, etc. as describedwith respect to FIGS. 32 and 33, for example. Since animals do notunderstand conventional imaging or other medical processes, they may bedifficult to handle or become agitated or confused under certainconventional imaging circumstances. As such, it may be very difficult toimage portions of animals to determine their condition using certainconventional imagers. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could be applied in suchmanner such as the animal may not even be aware of the ongoing Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing.Veterinarians could utilize certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to obtainconsiderable Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing information previously unobtainable while keepinga safe distance from uncooperative, uncertain, or dangerous animals.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 could be applied to livestock, such as maybe situated in a corral or even a field as described with respect toFIG. 33. Such livestock embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider may be able to scan them forcertain illnesses, conditions, sicknesses, etc. (e.g., mad cow disease).Certain users of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could be characterized by relative speed,limited expense, reliability, and effectiveness.

As such, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can visualize, image, and/or provideinformation of a wide variety of individuals from the surface 168 of theat least the portion of the individual down to the within the at leastone visualization, imaging, or information providing depth range to theat least one prescribed visualization, imaging, or information providingdepth. As described herein, the surface could be internal and/orexternal to the individual. The particular Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing modality being utilizedshould be configured based on the matter, region, structure, and othercharacteristics, of the at least the portion of the individual as wellas the condition of the at least the portion of the individual, etc.

Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingof distinct matter relatively can be based at least partially ondifferent X-ray based characteristics of the distinct matter, thejunction location of the different matters, etc. One X-raycharacteristic can be based, at least partially, on X-ray absorbancedifferences between different types of matter. Bones, bone fragments,etc. when being exposed to transmissive X-rays are generally understoodto absorb more X-ray based electromagnetic radiation (e.g., X-rayphotons) than softer human matter (such as skin, tissue, muscle, blood,bodily fluid, etc.), for example. Even with X-ray Compton scatteredX-ray, such as utilized by certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, the bone or bonefragments would be expected to be more dense, and would be expected toabsorb more X-rays of certain frequencies/energy levels than othermatter such as tissue. As such, certain matter will scatter a greaterpercentage of the applied or applied X-rays than bone or bone fragments,which will absorb a greater percentage of X-rays.

Similarly, each type of matter such as tissue, muscle, bones, fat, etc.should have distinct X-ray characteristics that can be imaged directlyusing Compton scattered X-ray techniques, and/or by using certainparticular contrast agents or fluoroscopy using certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider.Another X-ray characteristic can be based, at least partially, onCompton scattered X-ray or reflectance differences between differenttypes of matter. Yet another X-ray characteristic can be based, at leastpartially, on a ratio of photons transmission compared to photons returnbetween different types of matter.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can utilize a single applied X-ray beam 120during Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding such as can be provided by at least one emitter portion 150,as described in this disclosure. By comparison, certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information providercan utilize multiple applied X-ray beams 120 which may at leastpartially intersect with each other during Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing such as can be providedby the at least one emitter portion 150, as described in thisdisclosure. With certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, the intersection of themultiple applied X-rays 120 can be applied at a location that may bedesired to be visualized, imaged, or information provided, such as at aparticular depth, etc.

With certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, the intersection location of themultiple applied X-rays can be controllably moved to a desired locationsuch as may be controlled by the user of certain embodiments of thesubsurface Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 as described in this disclosure withrespect to FIG. 1. Alternately, such movement of the intersection caneffect a scan, similar to a raster scan such as is generally known bythose skilled with displays. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canthereby be configured to provide a variety of different depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information depending on theCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingtechniques. For instance, by Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing, certain individuals could bevisualized, imaged, or have information provided in a manner appearingsimilar to (but perhaps having different resolution or characteristicsfrom) imaging by conventional X-ray, fluoroscopy, MRI, CAT scans, orother Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding modalities.

One aspect of certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 is that relatively smalldepth visualizations, images, and/or provided information can becaptured, displayed, analyzed, and if desired recaptured without waitingfor durations associated with processing, or developing, the images arevisualizations for a larger region. In certain circumstances, thevisualizing, imaging, and/or providing information can be performedwithout having to wait for processing or developing, and the necessityof having to move or reposition the patient. During certain conventionalimaging techniques, the at least the portion of the individual mustremain virtually motionless during the conventional imaging process tomaintain the image quality. Additionally, certain conventional imagetechniques take a considerable duration to capture, develop, process,display, etc. By comparison, certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider can captureand/or display certain localized or shallow depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information relatively quickly. As such, theuser such as the physician, veterinarian, dentist, or other user canquickly examine the visualize, image, and/or provide information and/orobtain additional subsequent depth visualizations, images, and/orprovided information that show desired features, positions, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 may not require maintaining the at least theportion of the individual nearly motionless in an encircling enclosureor tunnel, such as with CT scans, PET scans, or MRI. Certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 might involve a change in Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing techniques by theusers, surgeons, etc., but would likely not diminish Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing capabilities orresolution as compared with other conventional imaging techniques.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured such that the at least onematter associated with the at least the portion of the individual 82.For example, the matter of the portion of the human can include at leastsome, or combination of: flesh, muscle, fat, tissue, bone, teeth, blood,fluids, or other such matter. As such, certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can visualize, image, and/or provide information relating to not onlymatter in general, but also different types of matter and junctionsbetween different types of matter. Such Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing matter can be performedat the range of resolutions as described in this disclosure, and may atleast partially rely on additional agents, components, etc. such as mayenhance Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can allow physicians a number ofopportunities to detect certain types of distinct matter, such as tumorsor cancer that may be situated in a region of generally normal matter.Certain Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding modalities may be more successful to detect certain types ofcancers as compared with certain visualizers, imagers, or haveinformation providers. It may therefore be useful to provide a Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingmodality that can detect at least one or a considerable number and typesof cancers, tumors, and/or other matter aberrations as described in thisdisclosure. For instance, certain Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing modalities may not detect certaincancers or other matter aberrations, while other Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing modalities (perhapsincluding certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100) may detect the cancers or othermatter aberrations.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured or designed to detect atleast one of a variety of cancers or tumors such as, but not limited to:breast cancer, skin cancer, colon cancer, bladder cancer, prostatecancer, etc. Such cancer cells or tumors may be situated in the matterat a location that certain conventional imagers may not be able toimage, or may be expensive to image well. Certain cancers, such ascertain breast cancer and certain melanomas, may be characterized bycalcium nodules, which may be difficult be detect using a variety ofconventional imaging techniques and/or devices.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be well suited to visualize, image,and/or provide information relating to a variety of cancer and/ortumors. Certain tumors or cancers may exhibit angiogenesis that allowdepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing by certain Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information providers 100. Theblood vessel of the patient individual nearby the cancer or tumor may begrown to allow for an increase in blood flow to the tumor or cancer asthe tumor or cancer tends to expand and grow outward. Cancer cells ortumor cells may lose their ability to divide in a controlled fashionthat can result in the angiogenesis. Tumors can induce blood vesselgrowth (angiogenesis) by secreting various growth factors, e.g. VascularEndothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Such growth factors can inducecapillary growth into the tumor, which some researchers suspect supplyrequired nutrients, thereby allowing for tumor expansion. Otherclinicians believe that angiogenesis really serves as a waste pathway,taking away the biological end products put out by rapidly dividingcancer cells. In either case, angiogenesis is a necessary and requiredstep for cancer cells to transition and grow from a small harmlesscluster of cells to the size of a large tumor. Angiogenesis is alsorequired for the spread of a tumor, or metastasis. The depth of thevisualization, imaging, or information providing can be controlled oradjusted as to localize the area being examined.

Certain types of cancer can proliferate to different regions, areas,organs, etc. based on metastasis. Metastasis can occur, for example,when single cancer cells break away from an established solid tumor,enter the blood vessel, and be carried to a distant site, where they canimplant and begin the growth of a secondary tumor. Evidence now suggeststhat the blood vessel in a given solid tumor may in fact be mosaicvessels, comprised of endothelial cells and tumor cells. This mosaicitycan allow for substantial shedding of tumor cells into the vasculature.The subsequent growth of such metastases will also require a supply ofnutrients and oxygen or a waste disposal pathway as provided bysubsequent angiogenesis. A tumor thereby typically consists of apopulation of rapidly dividing and growing cancer cells. Mutations mayrapidly accrue within the population of many cancer cells. Thesemutations of the cancer cells often allow at least some of the cancercells to develop drug resistance.

Tumors including certain cancer cells cannot grow beyond a certain size,while permitting the internal cancer cells deep within the tumor tosurvive (typically as a result of a lack of oxygen and other essentialnutrients that can be provided to the interior cancer cells). Certaintumors or cancers may thereby exhibit necrosis, in which, as the size ofthe tumor or cancer increases, the original cancer cells that aresituated deep within the tumor, and thereby distant from the outerboundary of the tumor or cancer may starve and die as a result of lackof nutrients such as may be provided by the healthy cells. Suchstarvation or dying may occur since the cell is no longer in contactwith healthy cells or supplies of nutrients or oxygen. As such, certainnecrotic cancer cells may tend to exhibit different photonic and X-raycharacteristics than the living cancer cells, as well as the healthycells. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can therefore be utilized to detectsuch necrotic cancer cells. Such depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing of tumors and/or cancer provides only oneillustrative embodiment of a use of certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

In addition, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can visualize, image,and/or provide information on a temporal/positional reflective basis,and may be performed without positioning the individual in theclaustrophobic enclosures, or applying the high-scale electromagneticradiation associated with, for example, conventional MRI, conventionalPET scans, and certain other conventional images.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can provide different depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing modalities and/or techniques than thatof conventional X-ray imaging. For example, conventional X-ray imagingcan visualize, image, and/or provide information relating to differencesbased at least in part on density or atomic number of the matter of theportion of the visualized, imaged, or information provided object, suchas differences on density between bone and skin for a person. Bycomparison, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can visualize, image,and/or provide information based at least partially on density of mattersuch as tissue, as well as providing an additional Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing modality. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be expected to visualize, image, and/orprovide information to a resolution down to approximately 100 microns,or even less as technology improves.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to utilize contrast agentssuch as, for example, iodine. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to apply a contrast agent at least partially within theconfined depth region. Also, certain embodiments of fluorophores (thatwhen accepted by matter may allow the matter to fluoresce under theapplication of certain X-rays), as well as other electromagneticresponsive material, can be utilized in a similar manner as contrastagent to matter to enhance the Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider can be configured to visualize, image, and/orprovide information relating to certain fluids and/or fluid locationssuch as blood (e.g., an element of hemoglobin). Certain blood locations,such as arteries, veins, blood pooling regions, body parts, organs,capillaries, regions, etc., can provide good X-ray contrast based atleast partially on iron or other materials in the blood. Therefore, theiron in the blood can cause deflection, absorption, reflection, orCompton scattered X-ray of the X-rays passing there through by somedetectable amount. Using conventional techniques, many surgeons, etc.have considerable uncertainty as to the precise location of many bloodvessels that they must operate around without contacting or damaging.Such effort by the surgeons, etc. in avoiding the blood vessels is notonly dangerous, but also expensive, laborious, and tedious. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can detect blood vessels, as well as otherbodily fluid conduits, etc. such as to in many instances allow thesurgeons, etc. to operate more safely, quickly, effectively, andefficiently.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can thereby be configured to observe calciumconcentration, such as may exist in certain cancers or tumors. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to visualize, image, and/orprovide information relating to iodine such as may be present andvarying concentrations in portions of the brain, such as may be providedby the thyroid. Certain embodiments may be used in combination with aCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingagent that can be added to the at least the portion of the individual,either intravascular or otherwise.

Certain organs and matter such as tissue that have considerable bloodflow either flowing through or contained therein can be visualized,imaged, or have information provided based, at least in part, on theblood situated within the organ or matter. Examples of such organs ormatter that can be visualized, imaged, or have information provided as aresult of blood can include, but are not limited to: the brain(accounting for approximately 20 percent of the blood flow in the humanbody at any given time), the heart, the liver, the lung, the appendix,the intestine, as well as certain muscles. The heart therefore is anexample of an organ that can be visualized, imaged, or have informationprovided particularly well based on blood situated relative to theheart. The heart acts to circulate blood throughout the body, and suchblood flow through the aorta, the ventricles, and other chambers andregions of the heart can be visualized, imaged, or have informationprovided (in certain instances in a substantially real-time basis). Inaddition, the heart additionally includes arteries, veins, andcapillaries which can be distinctly visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided.

There are variety of heart aspects and/or conditions that can be imageusing certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. For example, the myocardium couldbe imaged, as can the heart valves, the coronary arteries, the bloodvessels, as well as other matter and/or fluid of or within the heart.Certain blood flows through the valves, the aorta, etc. can be imaged,such as to indicate regurgitation and (that workflow) of blood through avalve; as well as valve stenosis (when blood flows through leakyvalves). Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to portions of the myocardium, such as to screenpersons for increased risk of myocardial infractions (heart attacks).Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can utilize external and/or Bluetooth imageand, such as by utilizing scopes, etc. They can be positioned as desiredrelative to the heart. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider can thereby beextended via scopes or other techniques following blood vessels, lumens,etc. to desired location within the heart. Certain embodiments of thesubsurface Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can be utilize string open-heart or closed surgery orprocedures.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can image at least portions of other organs,such as long as, liver, brain, etc. The lung and liver include internalnodules whose condition can be detected using certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider. Assuch, certain organs and matter can be visualized, imaged, or have imageprovided by certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 based, at least in part,on density or atomic number of the matter. For example, bones, spineportions, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, etc. can be visualized, imaged,or have information provided based on the varying density of theparticular organ or matter. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be utilized byorthopedic surgeons, for example, to determine how bones, bonefragments, boney portions, etc. are situated relative to each other. Forexample, during a spinal construct or bone fracture surgery, the surgeoncould determine whether the bone portions are properly aligned orsituated as desired; such as to be able to apply a construct, apply apin, set, etc. Following surgery, the individual (e.g., patient) couldbe examined using certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to determine a varietyof orthopedic considerations. For example, are the bones are in thedesired location such as aligned, are any pins, fasteners, etc. thathave been applied within the individual properly situated or affixedrelative to the portions of the individual, etc. Such post-operativeexamination can be performed with the bone portion(s) exposed, closed upand within the at least the portion of the individual, as well as alsocontained within a cast or other body part stabilizer. After surgery,certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 could be used to ensure that there has beenno retained surgical instruments, sponges, tools, needles, tactilefeedback providers, etc. within the at least the portion of theindividual.

A variety of organs and/or matter can be visualized, imaged, or haveinformation provided based at least partially on density imagecombination (e.g., image subtraction, time of flight, imagetransformation, deconvolution, image subtraction, weighted subtraction,functional subtraction, and group including inverse integral transform,subtractive inverse integral transform, inverse functional transform,and subtractive inverse functional transform, or other such imageprocessing techniques) across the organ. Certain organs can be formednon-uniformly, such as alveoli being formed within lungs, blood vessels,non-uniform heart matter or tissue, etc. Certain organs and matter caninclude gases, liquids, and/or solids in portions of the organ ormatter, such as to make the matter of the organ or tissue non-uniform.

As such, whether the Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing of the organ or matter is based at least partiallyon the blood or blood component situated therein, the density imagecombination (e.g., image subtraction, time of flight, imagetransformation, deconvolution, image subtraction, weighted subtraction,functional subtraction, and group including inverse integral transform,subtractive inverse integral transform, inverse functional transform,and subtractive inverse functional transform, or other such imageprocessing techniques) across the organ or matter, or the liquid, solid,or gasses contained in at least portions of the organ or matter. Itshould be understood that certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configuredto visualize, image, and/or provide information with considerabledefinition and at relatively low resolution, while others can beconfigured with relatively low definition at relatively high resolution.Such definitions, resolutions, and/or other depth visualizing, imaging,or information providing characteristic can be controlled and/oradjusted with certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

The operation and structure of the certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can,depending on context, have a considerable number of similaritiesindependent of the type of individual 82. Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be operated and/or scaled differently, however, depending upon thecondition and/or portion of the individual being visualized, imaged, orhaving information provided, desired resolution of Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing, rate ofsuccessive Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing, temporal duration of Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing, cooperation orconsciousness of the individual, and other such factors.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can thereby utilize a variety of X-rayCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingtechniques similar to those that can at least partially include, but arenot limited to: conventional X-ray imaging (e.g., transmission and/orfluoroscopy), X-ray Computed Tomography (CT or CAT) scans, PositronEmission Tomography (PET) scans, X-ray imaging at least partially usingCompton scattered X-ray, X-ray backscattering imaging, X-rayforward-scattering imaging, and/or other combinations, modifications,and/or developments of X-ray imaging, and/or X-ray based imagingmodalities. Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing technologies could be configured to representamong the more affordable and technically accepted visualization,imaging, or information providing technologies available in medicine.The more affordable a particular visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding modality is, the more likely it is to be routinely used, andthereupon ultimately developed and accepted.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 therefore can rely on a variety of X-raytechnologies. X-ray technologies, in general, can be characterized asparticle bombardment, in which the particle includes emitted photonsfollowing interaction of the target atom situated at the anode withelectrons directed at (or near) the target atom. Certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 therefore can rely on emission and detection of X-rays, which cantake the form of directed or bombarded particles such as photons (and/orCompton scattered photons there from).

As such, X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingtechnology can be associated and/or operatively combined with certainother imaging modalities such as particle bombardment imaging mechanisms(i.e., the particles including photons), as well as other conventionalimaging methodologies as described in this disclosure. Such combinationof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 with other imaging modalities are intended to be consideredas another embodiment of Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider, for the purpose of this disclosure, depending oncontext. As such, the X-rays can be characterized as including photons,which represent a form of electromagnetic radiation, which may becharacterized by Maxwell's Equations.

There can be a variety of X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding modalities can be utilized to provide some level of X-rayCompton backscattered X-ray or forward scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing (which together can be considered forpurpose of this disclosure, depending on context, to be referred to asX-ray Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding). Certain conventional transmission X-ray imaging modality canrely largely on those X-rays that can be applied to the soft matter ortissue of the at least the portion of the individual 82, to betransmitted there through (while being absorbed, diffracted, reflected,etc. off bones or other matter). The electromagnetic radiation of thetransmitted X-rays can thereupon be received at a distant location ofthe at least the portion of the individual 82, after it has passedthrough the at least the portion of the individual 82. Such techniquescan be used to form the X-ray on the opposite side of the at least theportion of the individual 82. Visualization, imaging, or informationproviding, as performed by certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, can refer tothose modalities that relies primarily on the X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation that is at least partially reflected, orredirected, as it passes through the soft matter or tissue (or otheropaque matter) of the at least the portion of the individual 82.

The term “Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding”, as described in this disclosure, can be performed by one ormore of certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. Depending on context, certain typeof Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding can include, but is not limited to, visualization, imaging, orinformation providing, photography, displaying, visualization, imaging,or information generation, computer generation, partial visualization,imaging, or information integration, visualization, imaging, orinformation capturing, visualization, imaging, or informationsynthesizing, and other techniques that can at least partially capturedepth visualizations, images, and/or provided information which rely, atleast in part, on depth visualizations, images, and/or providedinformation or information obtained from the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

A sufficient amount of the applied X-ray 120 can penetrate into the atleast portion of the individual 82 for a penetration depth 170 toaccomplish the desired Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing. By limiting the amount of X-rays, the dosagecan be limited as well. A certain amount of the applied X-ray beams 120will likely be Compton scattered or otherwise deflected throughout thepenetration region from the surface 168 (e.g., skin) subsurface down to,and including, the penetration depth 170.

Certain embodiments of the emitter portion 150 can be associated with avariety of embodiments of X-ray based electromagnetic radiation that canoperate at a variety of frequencies and/or energy levels, which maytherefore visualize, image, and/or provide information down to or at avariety of depths into the at least the portion of the individual 82within a first of view of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. Certain embodiments of the emitterportion 150 may be situated within the at least the portion of theindividual 82, adjacent to the at least the portion of the individual82, or external to the at least the portion of the individual 82. Eitherone, or a plurality of, emitter portion(s) 150 may be provided eitherwithin the at least the portion of the individual 82, adjacent to the atleast the portion of the individual 82, and/or external to the at leastthe portion of the individual 82.

Certain embodiments of the detector portion 152 can be configured, bycomparison, to receive X-ray electromagnetic radiation in the form ofscattered X-rays that can be scattered from the applied X-rays providedby the emitter portion of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, or another device configured toemit applied X-ray. Within this disclosure, certain embodiments of theat least one detector portion 152 can be adjustable such as to receivecertain embodiments of the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation such ascan be applied to the at least the portion of the individual from the atleast one emitter portion 150 (and Compton scattered at least partiallywithin the at least the portion of the individual). Such adjustment ofthe at least one detector portion 152 can be based on such parameters asdirection, signal strength, frequency, energy level, or other suchcharacteristics of the X-ray photons.

Certain embodiments of the at least one emitter portion 150, that is notassociated with any particular Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, may be utilized that can bedetected by one or more distinct detector portions 152 and/or one ormore distinct Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Forexample, certain embodiments of the at least one emitter portion 150 maybe configured as a “flooding” embodiment that can provide X-rays withina relatively larger area of the individual, and perhaps a surroundingarea. For instance, a remote or local source of the applied X-ray beams120 can include the emitter portion 150, and the applied X-ray beams 120can be at least partially directed at the at least the portion of theindividual 82 from a distant emitter portion, or other device, such ascould be detected by the detector portion 152. Certain embodiments ofoperating rooms, examination rooms, medical offices, researchfacilities, etc. may be provided with a dispersive embodiment of the atleast one emitter portion 150, such that each user (doctor, medicalassistant, technician, dentist, etc.) operationally nearby may utilizetheir distinct or combined personal or group detector portion 152,and/or personal or group display or information provider portion 154.

Certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152 can behand-held, and may thereupon be positioned by the user of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Forinstance, if a doctor or dentist would like to examine the subsurface ofcertain at least the portion of the individual, then certain embodimentsof the embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152 could bepositioned as proximate the at least the portion of the individual asdesired to provide the desired depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing quality and images. Such positionable embodimentsof the emitter portion 150, the detector portion 152, the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151, or other components of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be useful to image relatively small portions of the individual in amanner to substantially limit application of X-rays to those regions.For example, in a surgical operating room, medical examination room,veterinarian, etc., certain positionable embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can besituated closely adjacent the at least the portion of the individual.

The level of applied X-rays can be thereupon be relatively small ascompared with flooding-type emitter portions. The user (and/or thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97) canthereupon control or adjust the depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing. By allowing precise control of the limited atleast some matter in the at least a portion of the individual that isbeing imaged by capturing one or more sequential, adjustable,controllable, or continuous visualizations, images, or providedinformation, less X-ray electromagnetic radiation may be applied to theindividual, the user, and/or others in the vicinity. Certain embodimentsof the detector portion could be mechanically mounted, ormotion-stabilized (such as is understood in computer graphic systems),such as to limit relative motion of the visualize, image, and/or provideinformation on the display portion.

Certain embodiments of the at least one display portion 154, asdescribed in this disclosure, can display at least one visualize, image,and/or provide information based at least partially on the Comptonscattered X-ray based electromagnetic radiation that has been receivedby the at least one detector portion 152. Certain embodiments of the atleast one display portion 154 can be adjusted such that the user canobserve what they desire, adjust the visualization, image, or providedinformation, and/or otherwise control a variety of operations of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information providers100.

Certain embodiments of the at least one display portion 154 can displayat least portion of the visualize, image, and/or provide informationrelating to the portion of the individual 82 to the individual, such asa patient either alone or in combination with a physician, etc. The factthat certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information providers 100 can operate on a substantiallyreal-time basis can make the individual more aware of their conditionbased on an accurate Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing of at least a portion of their body. Considercertain individuals who may have an injury, illness, sickness, medicalcondition, etc. who can have an visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to an appropriate location likely be provided witha near-temporal/positional reflective visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to an appropriate location. As such, they can havemore knowledge of their treatment or condition, understand theirtreatment, and/or perhaps even participate in their treatment. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to control a treatingmechanism that can be used to treat the at least the portion of theindividual 82 at least partially in response to the X-ray Comptonscattered X-ray information.

In certain injuries or conditions such as ligament tears, joint or boneinjuries/fractures, organ conditions, etc., certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information providers 100could visualize, image, and/or provide information in a substantiallycontinuous manner as the at least the portion of the individualundergoes motion of an affected joint or location. For example, anorthopedic surgeon could consider or examine a knee joint or bone of apatient during flexure, relaxation, or other motion of that body part.In certain instances, dye, contrast agents, or other Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing-enhancingmaterials could be applied to at least the portion of the individualsuch as to improve the Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing of certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information providers 100 can interface and/or interact with eachother to provide Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing operation(s) between a number of the at leastportions of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation providers. For example, certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 (orportions thereof) can include the one or more emitter portion 150.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can include the one or more detector portion152, or alternately one or more Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151. Still yet other embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can include one or moredisplay portions 154. Various of the emitter portions 150, detectorportions 152, and/or display portions 154 can be combined as desired,and utilized in an appropriate configuration for the desired Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingapplication, only certain illustrative embodiments of which aredescribed in this disclosure.

Within this disclosure, certain embodiments of the at least one emitterportion 150 can be configured to apply X-ray based electromagneticradiation at least partially toward the at least the portion of theindividual 82. The frequency, energy level, or other operationalcharacteristics and/or structural characteristics of the X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation may differ considerably (and be lessobjectionable or dangerous) than as applied to patients by conventionalX-ray (fluoroscopy) techniques. This is largely a result of lower X-raydosages being applied to the individual since the X-rays can rebound orscatter from the at least the portion of the individual 82 after it haspassed through only a relatively short distance within the at least theportion of the individual. As such, electromagnetic shielding that isapplied to patients undergoing fluoroscopy can be limited, or at leastconsiderably reduced, by using certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Certainairport screening systems, for example, use X-ray scatter visualization,imaging, or information providing from security screening without undueconcern of excessive radiation being applied to the travelers of usersof the X-ray scanning systems.

Applied X-rays of limited strength could be useful in depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing sensitive at least portions ofindividuals such as embryos, fetuses, etc. within pregnant women.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 could image in a manner such that the X-raysstop just short of sensitive matter or tissue, organ, or other matter(e.g., the uterus, heart, brain, etc.) and thereby limit exposure ofionizing radiation to the embryos, fetuses, etc. for example. Inactuality, almost any matter within the individual can be considered assensitive to some degree, particularly relative to desirability oflimiting exposure of X-rays there to. As such, certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 are particularly suited to correcting or applying applied X-raysand/or scattered X-ray to controllably limited regions within theindividual. Additionally, there may be a considerable number and varietyof organs, portions, or segments of the body that would do better withlimited applied X-rays. As such, certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canlimit transmission of X-rays during depth imaging to certain of suchmatter, organs, portions, or segments of the body. Certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can thereby be configured to visualize, image, and/orprovide information relating to areas as desired within the particularindividual, and limit exposure of X-ray radiation to other (perhapssensitive) regions.

Within this disclosure, the Compton scattered X-ray detected by certainembodiments of the detector portion 152 can be back Compton scattered,forward Compton scattered, deflected, or other distortions of the pathof the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation that fall within the scopeof the present disclosure, while remaining within the intended scope ofCompton scattered X-ray. Certain embodiments of the detector portion 152can be associated with a variety of embodiments of X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation, which can operate at a variety of frequenciesand/or energy levels, and may therefore visualize, image, and/or provideinformation down to or at a variety of depths into the at least theportion of the individual 82.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, as described in this disclosure, can beconfigured with one or more of the emitter portion 150, the at least oneCompton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151, the detector portion152, and/or the display portion 154, or any combination thereof. Withthose embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 having no emitter portion 150, the X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation can be at least partially provided by anotherdevice. For instance, a number of the display portion(s) 154 (oralternately at least one display portion that can be viewed by numerouspersons), can be utilized by or controlled by a number of persons suchas surgeons, technicians, assistants, etc. that can be applied by asingle strategically located emitter portion 150. The emitter portion150 may, or may not, be included as a portion of at least one of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider(s)100.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be controlled, such as to allow itsoperator to select different penetration depths 170 (or range ofpenetration depths) to which the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider can visualize, image, or provideinformation. Within certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, the penetration depth170 for visualizing, imaging, and/or information providing may vary as afunction of the energy applied to or contained within the applied X-ray,and/or the frequency, energy level, or other characteristics of theX-ray photons of the applied X-ray 120. The matter (e.g., skin, tissue,bone, etc) to which the applied X-ray 120 is being applied will alsoaffect the visualizing, imaging, or information providingcharacteristics. As certain characteristics of the applied X-ray areincreased, it may likely effect the maximum penetration depth 170 (seeFIGS. 18 and/or 20) to which the applied X-ray Compton scattered X-rayradiation will likely travel to prior to Compton scattered X-ray, orthereby visualize, image, and/or provide information down to. While alimited number of X-rays might travel within the at least the portion ofthe individual to a depth greater than the penetration depth 170,certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to limit the effects ofthose few X-rays relative to the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can provide for image combination (e.g.,image subtraction, time of flight, image transformation, deconvolution,weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, and group includinginverse integral transform, subtractive inverse integral transform,inverse functional transform, and subtractive inverse functionaltransform, or other such image processing techniques) as described withrespect to FIG. 16. Within this disclosure, such image combiningtechniques as relating to Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing techniques can, depending on context,refer to Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding between two of the at least one prescribed visualization,imaging, or information providing depths 170 a and 170 b. Eachprescribed visualization, imaging, or information providing depth 170 aand 170 b can be situated at least some distance from the skin orsurface 168 of the individual (such as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and/or17). Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can obtain multiple sampledvisualize, image, and/or provide information relating to data pertainingto X-ray Compton scattered X-ray Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing at different depths eithersequentially or in parallel. As such, the multiple sampled visualize,image, and/or provide information relating to data can be considered asCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providinga similar sample space down to different penetration depths 170 a and170 b.

Certain ones of the multiple sampled visualize, image, and/or provideinformation relating to data can thereupon be compared at leastpartially by image combination (e.g., image subtraction, time of flight,image transformation, deconvolution, weighted subtraction, functionalsubtraction, and group including inverse integral transform, subtractiveinverse integral transform, inverse functional transform, andsubtractive inverse functional transform, or other such image processingtechniques). As such, those details, images, information,visualizations, etc. that are situated in the shallower penetrationdepth 170 a, and not in the deeper penetration depth 170 b, as describedwith respect to FIG. 16, can be digitally subtracted out, transformedout, or otherwise computed out. By digitally differentiating the matter,tissue, objects, etc. being visualized, imaged, or have informationprovided at the shallower penetration depth 170 a from the deeperpenetration depth 170 b, the depth visualizations, images, and/orprovided information or other information relating to matter between theshallower and deeper penetration depths can be obtained.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to obtain a X-ray Comptonscattered X-ray information at least partially using X-ray Comptonscattered X-ray to derive visualize, image, and/or provide informationthrough at least one matter (e.g., tissue or other matter) of the atleast the portion of the individual 82. Such visualizing, imaging, orproviding information can be provided at least at both a first depthregion and at a second depth region, both associated with the at least acommon portion of the individual 82. The depth difference between thefirst depth regions that extends to a first penetration depth 170 a andthe second depth region that extends to a second penetration depth 170 bcan be used for subtraction or combination Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing techniques, asdescribed in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 that utilize subtraction or combinationCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingtechniques can therefore act to visualize, image, and/or provideinformation at different penetration depths 170 a and 170 b. As such,adjustment of the subtraction or combination Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing technique can beperformed at least partially by, for example, controlling and/oradjusting the frequency of energy level of the X-ray photons at twolevels to provide two X-rays. Each of the controlling and/or adjustingthe frequency of energy level of the X-ray photons can be detecteddistinctly to the at least one prescribed visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depths 170 a and 170 b. Thereupon, the differenceof the shallower level image undergoes image combination (e.g., imagesubtraction, time of flight, image transformation, deconvolution, imagesubtraction, weighted subtraction, functional subtraction, and groupincluding inverse integral transform, subtractive inverse integraltransform, inverse functional transform, and subtractive inversefunctional transform, or other such image processing techniques) fromthat of the deeper image. The image subtraction or combination depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing techniques can thereby beused to provide information about matter within range of volumes betweentwo penetration depths 170 a and 170 b in FIGS. 16 and 17 from thesurface 168, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to visualize, image,and/or provide information at a first controllable one of the at leastone visualization, imaging, or information providing depth range to theat least one first prescribed visualization, imaging, or informationproviding depth to obtain the first Compton scattered X-ray imageinformation. Certain of these embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can visualize, image,and/or provide information at a second controllable one of the at leastone visualization, imaging, or information providing depth range to theat least one second prescribed visualization, imaging, or informationproviding depth to obtain the second Compton scattered X-rayinformation. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured tocomputationally differentiating the data associated with the first X-rayCompton scattered X-ray information and the second X-ray Comptonscattered X-ray information.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can also utilize a time of flightmeasurement to visualize, image, and/or provide information at the atleast one visualization, imaging, or information providing depth rangeto the at least one prescribed visualization, imaging, or informationproviding depth, as described with respect to FIG. 17. Such time offlight measurement can utilize precise pulse signals which can becharacterized as at least one input pulse signal and at least one returnpulse signal (allowing fractional-second temporal Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing resolution so asto achieve suitable Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing resolution). The briefer the duration of theemitted pulse signal and the detected pulse signal, the lesser theachievable resolution (lesser resolution leading to improved Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingcharacteristics). Using time of flight techniques, the emitted pulsesignals can be applied by certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to the surface 168of the at least the portion of the individual 82. Providing the time offlight of the return signal can be measured with sufficient accurately(e.g., resolution in picoseconds for certain embodiments, such as thosethat utilize streak cameras, pixellated streak cameras, avalanchedetectors, CCDs, etc.) then the time of the detected pulse signal can begated to provide sufficient accuracy, and the time of flight can bedetermined, from which the distance or depth can be determined.

By using the time of flight embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, the emitter portion 150can transmit the at least one input pulse and the detector portion 152can detect the return time of the at least one return pulse signal. Asdescribed with respect to FIG. 17, a time of flight calculation 160 canbe determined based on the amount of time required for the at least oneinput pulse signal to be applied to the at least the portion of theindividual; which can thereupon each be Compton scattered into one ormore return pulse signal. The Compton scattered return pulse signal(s)will be modified based at least in part on the characteristics of thematter of the individual through which the pulse signals pass (e.g.,pulse applied X-ray and/or pulse scattered X-ray).

One use of combination of Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing (including subtracting, and other suchprocesses) may involve Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing matter, an organ, etc. that is located within aregion that is situated a considerable depth from the surface 168.During depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing of such adeep organ, matter, etc., additional matter, organs, etc. that arepositioned between the depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding component(s) of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 and the imaged region may not benecessarily be displayed. Therefore, additional matter, organs, tissue,etc. may not be visualized, imaged, or have information provided usingimage combination (e.g., image subtraction, time of flight, imagetransformation, deconvolution, weighted subtraction, functionalsubtraction, and group including inverse integral transform, subtractiveinverse integral transform, inverse functional transform, andsubtractive inverse functional transform, or other such image processingtechniques).

As such, certain organs, matter, etc. that are situated deep within theat least the portion of the individual may be imaged without depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing interference fromshallower matter using subtraction or combination of Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing techniques, suchas with image combination (e.g., image subtraction, time of flight,image transformation, deconvolution, weighted subtraction, functionalsubtraction, and group including inverse integral transform, subtractiveinverse integral transform, inverse functional transform, andsubtractive inverse functional transform, or other such image processingtechniques). Alternately, certain matter, tissue, organs, etc. can beimaged by positioning the at least one emitter portion 150, the at leastone detector portion 152, and/or the at least one Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly internally at a suitable position relative tothe imaged organs, matter, etc. One skilled with the variousembodiments, configurations, and uses of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could determine whichdepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing technique wouldprovide the better quality depth visualizations, images, and/or providedinformation or images, less invasively, thereby lowering the X-raydosages to the user and/or individual.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can at least partially rely on Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing matterwithin the at least the portion of the individual 82, such as muscle,skin, blood vessels, fluids (e.g., blood, lymph), etc. Within thisdisclosure, the soft Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing may be compared to hard imaging such as occurs inconventional backscatter imaging that may occur when the imagingmodality encounters a hard or reflective surface such as bones, metals,etc. By providing Compton scattered X-ray-based Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing of soft matter, certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can allow detection of variations of certaincharacteristics of the soft matter, such as may be the case ofcalcification of the skin such as occurs relative to a matteraberration. Such matter aberrations as certain breast cancers can beidentified due to the calcification of the tumor or cancer. By allowingCompton scattered X-ray-based Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing of at least some soft matter, certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide for locating. Such locating orpositioning based at least partially on matter aberration can be appliedto such varied applications as positioning organs, circulatory portions(e.g., veins, arteries, etc), blood flows, nerves, bones, etc. relativeto the at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual 82.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to limit certain contactor damage of arteries, veins, capillaries, or other blood (or otherfluid) vessels, etc. Consider the difficulty during surgery, etc., ofavoiding such contact that may be at some uncertain location within theindividual. Considering the number of blood or other fluid vesselswithin the body, as well as the likelihood of damage using scopes, toolswithin incisions, cutting tools, tactile feedback providers, othertools, etc., the scope of the difficulty during surgery, etc. becomesevident. In certain instances, a surgeon may even be unaware if theyhave damaged a hidden blood vessel or other fluid capillary. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be positioned to visualize, image, and/orprovide information the region in which the physician or veterinarian isworking. Alternately, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be connected to, orotherwise associated with, tools being applied to the at least theportion of the individual. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can also allowsurgeons, and/or their tools, to avoid or limit contact with particularnerves, organs, matter, etc. Such depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing which allows users such as surgeons, dentists,veterinarians are likely to come in proximity with blood vessels, fluidvessels, nerves, organs, matter, etc. to limit contact their with. Suchimaging or visualization to limit contact with certain portions of thebody can be performed on a substantially real-time basis, or anotherbasis as desired, and would be expected to considerably reduce theduration of operations, procedures, etc, by such users as doctors,dentists, veterinarians, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can also be configured to locate, analyze,and/or treat blood pooling or other fluid pooling. With certain injuriesfrom bombs, explosives, injuries, vehicular and other crashes, certainillnesses, etc., it can be difficult with conventional imagers to locateblood pooling within portions of humans, animals, etc. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could determine, for example, a trajectory of abullet, explosive, bomb, etc. such as could be located by determiningthe location (such as in a trail or pool) of blood through organs,matter, etc. Other naturally occurring blood or fluid pools could belocated, examined, and/or treated.

Another example of a bodily fluid which might be located using certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 is lymph fluid. Following certain cancers, forexample, certain lymph nodes may have to be removed. Lymph nodesfunction to largely remove lymph fluid from the body. With lymph nodesremoved, there can be a considerable collection of the lymph fluid inthe body, which can add to weight gain to the individual and/oreventually become infected. Other types of bodily fluids may bevisualized, imaged, or have information provided.

Certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion 152, asdescribed at various locations through this disclosure, can becontrolled and/or adjusted to receive photons at least partially emittedfrom the at least one emitter portion 150. Such control and/oradjustment can be performed in a manner that can be used to provideCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingusing certain embodiments of the at least one display portion 154.

Certain embodiments of the depth visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 can thereby include, but is not limited to, atleast one control and/or adjustment portion 934. Certain embodiments ofthe detector portion 152 of the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 can be configured to measure the amount of X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation (e.g., scattered X-rays in the form ofphotons) that is received by the at least one detector portion 152.Certain embodiments of the control and/or adjustment portion 934 can beconfigured to control and/or adjust the position, angle, or otheroperating parameter of at least a portion of the at least one Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151. Certain embodiments of thecontrol and/or adjustment portion 934 can be used to enhance, modify,filter, or otherwise effect reception of the X-ray based electromagneticradiation (e.g., in the form of photons), such as may be emitted fromthe at least one emitter portion 150. Certain detector portions 152 ofcertain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 can be omni-directional, multi-directional, or at least have asuitable directional range as to suitable detect the X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation being emitted towards the at least the portionof the individual. Certain embodiments of the control and/or adjustmentportion 934 can be configured to the relative angle(s), frequencies,and/or positions of the at least one emitter portion 150, and/or the atleast the portion of the individual 82. Certain embodiments of thecontrol and/or adjustment portion 934 can be configured to ensuresuitable transmission or reception of X-ray based electromagneticradiation to allow proper depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding.

Certain embodiments of the at least one Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151 can also include a detector portion transferportion, not shown, in which the detected photons, Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing information,data, etc. relating to the X-rays that can be at least partially Comptonscattered at/within the at least the portion of the individual. Certaindata, information, images, visualizations, etc. as obtained at leastpartially be the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 can bedisplayed by the at least one display portion 154, perhaps in a form ofthe at least one visualization, image, or provided information.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to visualize, image,and/or provide information at a substantially real-time basis, whileother embodiments can be configured to visualize, image, and/or provideinformation at a slower repetitive rate. Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can even be configured to visualize, image, and/or provide informationrelating to one or more non-repetitive depth visualizations, images,and/or provided information. Such selection of Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing on substantiallytemporal/positional reflective can allow such users as a surgeon,doctor, veterinarian, dentist, etc. to obtain conditional information,location information, etc. at desired subsurface locations of the atleast the portion of the individual 82 as quickly as desired. Withinthis disclosure, the term “subsurface”, can, depending on context, referto depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing matterunderneath, or across, the surface 168 of the at least the portion ofthe individual 82 (possibly depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding the surface of the individual). Certain of the surfaces 168can include skin, internal surfaces, etc. that can be in communicationwith outside via an opening such as one which a scope that could beapplied, such as mucous membranes, at least partially endothelium,internal membranes or skin(s) at least partially defining or surroundinga lumen, via blood vessels, etc. Certain embodiments of at least portionof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 (such as the emitter portion 150 or the Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151) could be applied to within the at leastthe portion of the individual 82 using such technologies as a scope, aneedle, an injected or implanted device.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 could be configured to, for example, image amoving organ as described with respect to FIG. 31. Such visualization,imaging, or providing information relative to moving organs can beapplied to, for example, at least a portion of the heart, kidney, brain,stomach, intestine, or other organ that can be defined based onvisualization, imaging, or information providing, or variations such asby edges of the particular organs being visualized, imaged, orinformation provided.

Consider that a moving two dimensional or three dimensional image of aportion of the heart could be provided using certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.Such depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing could beuseful for diagnosis purposes, during surgery, during screening ofsusceptible individuals, etc. Depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding could be performed on a heart valve, as well as the associateddepth visualizing, imaging, or information providing through that heartvalve. Heart-based depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingcould be provided by positioning the at least one emitter portion 150and the at least one detector portion 152 in suitable proximity to (orwithin) the heart utilizing suitable scopes, implants, etc. along withwireless and/or wired-based technology. The configuration, position,motion, reflex of the heart, aorta, arteries, valves, etc. can be usedwith suitable resolution and refresh rates using certain Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100configurations.

Certain embodiment the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 could be applied to image matter or tissuecontained within such internal lumens to the human body (and/or imagefrom the internal lumens). Such internal lumens can include, but are notlimited to, those at least partially defining: the respiratory tract,the cardiovascular system (e.g., heart, blood vessels), at least aportion of a CSF-space of the nervous system (e.g., the spinal canal,the ventricles of the brain, the sub-arachnoids space, etc.), at least aportion of the urinary tract (for example a urethra), at least a portionof the lymphatic system, at least a portion of the abdominal cavity, atleast a portion of the thoracic cavity, at least a portion of thegastrointestinal tract, at least a portion of a reproductive tract(either the female reproductive tract—e.g., a lumen of a fallopiantube), or the male reproductive tract (including various lumensincluding but not limited to the epidermis, vas deferens or ductiledeferens, efferent duct, ampoule, seminal duct, ejaculatory duct, orurethra), the biliary tract, a nostril or nasal cavity, the oral cavity,the digestive tract, the tear ducts, a glandular system, and/or thereproductive tract. Other body lumens may be found in the auditory orvisual system, or in interconnections thereof, e.g., the Eustachiantubes. As such, three can be a considerable variety of applications forcertain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to visualize, image,and/or provide information at a single resolution device, such as may beappropriate for a particular Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing application, a particular resolution,or a particular use. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured tovisualize, image, and/or provide information at a variety of resolutionsor applications, such as can be controlled by certain embodiments of thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 asdescribed in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 1. Such variation ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding resolution may vary depending on use. For instance, in thoseinstances where the embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 is being used todetermine a location or position of an organ, bone, etc., relativelyhigh resolution (e.g., low quality) Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing can be utilized. Bycomparison, in those instances where the embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 arebeing used to detect tumors or the like, a relatively improvedresolution (high quality) visualize, image, and/or provide informationmay be obtained and utilized.

Certain embodiments of the X-ray Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing can thereby utilize one or moreemitter portions 150 that can apply X-ray radiation which can be Comptonscattered and/or reflected off at least the portion of the individual82. As such, certain conventional X-ray Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing may be referred to as“soft X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing” since itis reflective (relying at least partially on reflection/refraction ofX-ray based electromagnetic radiation-photons), instead of being atleast partially transmissive as with certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Certaintransmissive types of conventional X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can also utilize fluoroscopy. In addition, X-rayCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingmay often utilize less powerful X-ray signals then conventional X-rayimaging since the photons of the former do not have to pass through theat least the portion of the individual 82.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 therefore provide a mechanism to examine orview an aberration in the surface 168 that can be provided intemporal/positional reflective, real time or near real time, or in acontrollable repeatable or non-repeatable fashion. Certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding time (duration) can be controlled or adjusted based, at leastin part, on such factors as: input from the user, Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing detail. Otheroperational characteristics of certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beadjusted and/or controlled by certain embodiments of the visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97, as described in thisdisclosure.

It is to be understood that the included description(s) of the at leastone emitter portion 150, the at least one detector portion 152, and/orthe at least one display portion 154, as described in this disclosure,are intended to be illustrative in nature but not limiting in scope.Modifications and/or alterations of the devices 150, 151, 152, and/or154 from those described in this disclosure are within the intendedscope of the present disclosure, depending they still are within thescope of the claims.

As such, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 may be configured such that thephysician, dentist, etc. using them can observe a subsurfacevisualization, image, and/or provide information of the region of the atleast the portion of the individual 82. Certain particulars of theCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingand/or the region can vary depending on the embodiment of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Forexample, certain Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing can correspond to where they are looking, whereinthey desire to look, or alternatively where they direct the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 tovisualize, image, or provide information. Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can present visualizations, images, and/or provide information to agroup of persons particularly associated with the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider.

With conventional X-rays that are transmitted through the at least theportion of the individual 82, including fluoroscopy as well asconventional transmissive X-rays techniques, X-rays may be configured tobe applied such that the electromagnetic radiation is applied withsufficient energy level and/or frequency of the X-ray photons to beapplied through the portion of the at least some matter. The X-rayphotons resulting from Compton scattered X-ray is traditionally notutilized in conventional fluoroscopy-based imaging modalities. As such,with certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, the applied X-ray beams 120 do nothave to be applied exclusively, but can represent a percentage (even aminority) of the electromagnetic radiation being applied to the at leastthe portion of the individual 82.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can utilize Compton scattered X-rays that donot have to backscatter or backwardly reflect from within the at leastthe portion of the individual 82. Instead, certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can pass at least partially through the at least the portion of theindividual 82 and be somewhat deflected or forward scattered, such thatas described within the at least the portion of the individual 82. TheX-ray based electromagnetic radiation that is detected as “Comptonscattered” information may thereby at least partially backscatter,forward scatter, reflect from, or be at least partially deflected by,the at least the portion of the individual 82. Certain embodiments ofthe applied X-ray from the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be applied can be applied at variousangles (ranging from perpendicular to substantially parallel to thecontacting surface 168 of the at least the portion of the individual 82)relative to the surface of the matter of the at least the portion of theindividual 82.

The visualization, imaging, or information can be presented to the usersuch as a surgeon, veterinarian, dentist, researcher, etc. by a varietyof display portion means that can include, but are not limited to: anexternal monitor, a head-mounted display, stereoscopic projection, ascope device (i.e., endoscope, etc.). Certain portions of differentembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be used in combination, such as ascope-based emitter portion 150 which can be used in combination with anat least partially external-based or internal-based detector portion 152from another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be usable or are adjustable tovisualize, image, and/or provide information to various controllableand/or adjustable depths. For example, certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100could be configured to visualize, image, and/or provide information to adepth of a few millimeters. Other embodiments could be configured tovisualize, image, and/or provide information to a depth through the atleast the portion of the individual 82, if provided with X-rayelectromagnetic radiation having sufficient energy or of a suitableX-ray photon frequency or energy level. The depth of Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing of certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be a function of frequency, energy level,or other characteristic of the X-ray photons used to generate theCompton scattered visualization, image, type of matter of theindividual, as well as power applied to generate the Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, image, or provided information.

For example, a user or operator can utilize certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100to visualize, image, and/or provide information at a variety of depths.It is envisioned that a variety of depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing modalities can be utilized for the differentembodiments of the debt-controllable Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. With certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,as described in this disclosure, the Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing can visualize, image,and/or provide information from the surface 168 down to and includingthe controlled depth of the at least the portion of the individual 82.

Certain embodiments of a robotic or automated system can utilize certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, such as to allow a wide variety of automatedor robotic devices to operate at least partially in response tovisualization, imaging, or provided information. For instance, certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider could scan the at least the portion of theindividual for suspicious areas such as melanomas automatically, andindicate any suspicious region to a doctor or operator to be moreclosely considered. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured tocontrol a robotic device at least partially in response to the X-rayCompton scattered X-ray information. It may be envisioned that certainautomated devices or robotic devices could be configured to allowsurgery, internal procedures (e.g., scope-based or other), and/or otherinternal operations based at least in part on visualization, imaging, orinformation providing information obtained at least in part from theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.Such automated or robotic procedures hold out the promise ofconsiderable precision, as well as a variety of automated orremotely-controlled operation.

A variety of embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to allow controland/or adjustment of the within the at least one visualization, imaging,or information providing depth range to the at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can allow an operator such as a surgeon,support person, other person, machine, robot, etc. to provide input, ormanually, to control and/or adjust the depth at which the at least onedepth-adjustable embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. With certain depth-adjustableembodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, at least one of the selected depth that isbeing visualized, imaged, or have information provided can be targeted(for example, by tuning the X-ray beam intensity, energy level,frequency, or other characteristics) either manually and/orautomatically.

One such technique that can be used to adjust and/or control the withinthe at least one visualization, imaging, or information providing depthrange to the at least one prescribed visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth at least partially by angling the appliedX-rays relative to the surface 168 of the at least the portion of theindividual. Provided the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 is configured to pass through a prescribe depthof matter, the greater the angle at which the applied X-rays contact thesurface 168, the lesser the travel distance of the at least onesubstantially scattered depth range to the at least one prescribedsubstantially scattered depth into the matter.

Another such technique that can be used to adjust and/or control the atleast one substantially scattered depth range to the at least oneprescribed substantially scattered depth by certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can involve providing a depth equivalent material or device between thatthe applied X-rays should pass through. For example, assume that thedepth equivalent material or device represents the equivalent of 2 mm.Assuming the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 is configured to image at 5 mm, the image subtraction orcombination effect of the depth equivalent material would result inCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingdown to a depth of 3 mm. A number of depth equivalent material ofdevices can be provided such as to allow control and/or adjustment overthe desired substantially scattered depth range to the at least oneprescribed substantially scattered depth.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 may be configured to obtain the X-rayCompton scattered X-ray information in a manner capable of temporallyreflecting motion (conscious or reflexive) of portion(s) of theindividual 82 than are deeper than those described up to this point. Forexample, certain embodiments of the aberrative matter, etc. may beconfigured to visualize, image, and/or provide information at least oneorgan(s), bone(s), bone portion(s), blood vessel(s), bloodcapillar(ies), etc. that may be spaced relatively deeply subsurface. Byaltering certain operational characteristics of the X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation that may be applied by the at least oneemitter portion(s) 150 as described with respect to FIG. 1, as well asreceived by certain embodiments of the at least one detector portion(s)152, the visualization, imaging, or information providing depth canthereby be controlled.

Considering that conventional X-rays can image by X-rays passingcompletely through the at least the portion of the individual, it shouldbe understood that Compton scattered X-ray technologies can be used tovisualize, image, and/or provide information a considerable depth intothe at least the portion of the individual provided the X-rays areconfigured to travel with a suitable frequency of the X-ray photons at asuitable energy level, etc. Such Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing of at least partially internal organs,bones, etc. can better be performed in some internal location that isnot at least partially hidden, distorted, or obscured by bones, metal orother X-ray diffusive matter. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may beconfigured such that the obtaining the X-ray Compton scattered X-rayinformation such as can be obtained visually.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can visualize, image, and/or provideinformation from a variety of perspectives. For instance, certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide different types of views. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be configured to provide depthvisualizations, images, and/or provided information and/or visualize,image, and/or provide information in substantially temporal and/orpositional reflective condition, such as could be detected by the user.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 could provide depth visualizations, images,and/or provided information and/or visualize, image, and/or provideinformation at absolute locations in space. For instance, a particularbone, joint, portion of an organ, etc. could be located or situated at aprecise position with respect to the at least the portion of theindividual 82, a device, a location in space, a building or room, etc.Such determination of a position, situation, or location could bedetermined using a global positioning system (GPS), another globalpositional program or device, or using a coordinate system or devicerelative to the at least the portion of the individual, or the locationthereof. In addition to the location or position, there may be anindication of the condition of the particular bone, joint, portion ofthe organ, etc. at that location. Once such positional information isobtained, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 could utilize, implant, generate atleast portions of the depth visualizations, images, and/or providedinformation such as may be provided using an additional or alternatevisualization, imaging, or information providing modality, an otherapplication, other maps, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 that are so configured to provide goodresolution should be capable of providing 100 micron, or better,resolution based on the X-ray Compton scattered X-ray technology. Asdescribed in this disclosure, streak camera, pixellated streak cameras,CCDs, avalanche detectors, and other detector-type devices can be beused to provide very good resolution and accuracy. With such resolution,certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider could be used to determine positionalinformation precisely and accurately. Such combining of multiple imagingand/or visualizing modalities may limit the depth visualizing, imaging,or information providing computation necessary by certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 by, for example, inputting image information already derived fromother sources.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can thereby provide for overlaying ofcombining of the X-ray Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing with other conventional and/or imagingmodalities. For example, MRI could be overlaid on certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100. MRI provides a good example of an additional imaging modality thatcan be used in combination with X-rays, since MRI is generallyunderstood to be highly accurate, provide considerable visualizations,images, and/or provided information in the medical area, and can bequite expensive. As such, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can capture orotherwise obtain temporal/positional reflective Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing, and a variety oflocative techniques in utilized to match recently obtained MRI or otherimaging modality images (two or three dimensions) in the imaged region.For example, certain fiducials could provide position information forMRI (or other imaging modality) such as could also provide positioninformation for certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

As such, the location of the fiducials they can provide positioninformation for MRI could be used to co-locate the MRI and/or thesubsurface Compton scattered X-ray. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, oncethe X-ray subsurface Compton scattered X-ray depth visualizations,images, or provided information has been located with respect to theother imaging modality such as MRI, the depth visualizations, images,and/or provided information, depth visualizations, images, or providedinformation relating to MRI can be imported, utilized, and/or displayedby certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. Certain of the fiducial can beendogenous (such as blood within the blood vessel); while otherfiducials can be exogenous (such as a bead which is implanted under theskin.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can allow providing inputting higher energy,such as may result in demarcated finer structures within the visualized,imaged, or information provided regions that are located deeper into theat least the portion of the individual. This control or adjustment ofthe visualization, imaging, or information providing can result since alarger percentage of the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation (e.g.,photons) have the ability to be applied by the emitter portion 150 totravel within the at least the portion of the individual to the deeperregions, scatter, and travel out again to be detected. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can provide some amount of adjustment, control,and/or shift to the X-ray based electromagnetic radiation, which withcertain embodiments can be varied, adjusted, or controlled, especiallywhen Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding deeper matter, bones, or organs, etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 are therefore useful in providing relativelydetailed visualizations, images, and/or provided information about oneor more of: matter, aberrative matter embedded in tissues, bones,organs, etc. A considerable number of conventional imaging modalitiesmay be useful for Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing at least some of the matter within the body of theindividual with such resolution.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can provide some quantification, automatedobservation, and/or feedback associated with the Compton scattered X-rayin a temporal/positional reflective basis, and in certain instances at avariety of controllable depth(s). In certain instances, the Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing can beperformed through modifiable (in-vivo) matter with low latency.Illuminating electromagnetic characteristics selected withcharacteristics having intensity and wavelengths selected to limittransmission of excessive electromagnetic radiation (e.g., X-ray) intothe body of the individual, and thereby limit X-ray dosages.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to scan across the surface168 (or through a region) of the at least the portion of the individual82. By comparison, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured tocapture at least one visualization, at least one image, and/or provideinformation substantially at the same time. The particularcharacteristics of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 imaging modality are intended to beillustrative in nature, but not limiting in scope.

At least portions of certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can include scopes suchas endoscopes as described with respect to FIG. 23. Within thisdisclosure, the term “endoscope” can, depending on context, refer to anone of a variety of scopes that can be applied at least partiallyinternally or externally, such as to one or more of the tracts that areat least partially open that can include, but are not limited to: thegastrointestinal tract, the respiratory tract, the urinary tract, thefemale reproductive system, etc. Such visualization, imaging, orinformation providing relative to the tracts can be for a variety ofpurposes including, but not limited to, examination for health,research, or medical purposes, screening for cancers or tumors,injuries, illnesses, or sicknesses, reproductive conditions, etc. Forexample, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider can be configured as an “endotrachealtube (ET), or other tube, that can have had the appropriate componentsas described with respect to FIG. 1. Certain embodiments of theendoscopes can be applied into normally closed lumens, cavities, andportions of the individual such as via a small incision. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be used, for instance, to determine wheresuch small incisions may be situated, for example.

Certain embodiments of the endoscope-based embodiment of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 caninclude, but are not limited to, a rigid or flexible tube 1102, a lightdelivery system 1104, and the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider component(s). For instance, certainendoscope-based embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to include zero,1, or more emitter portion 150; zero, one, or more Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151; zero, one, or more detector portion 152;and/or zero, 1, or more display portion 154, as described with respectto FIG. 1. Other components component of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that are not situated inthe scope-based embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider can be included in other associatedembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider.

FIGS. 34 to 37 show four embodiments of certain components of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100relative to the at least the portion of the individual 82. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can utilize either wire-based or wirelesscommunications to transfer data between related devices, such as the atleast one detector portion 152 and the at least one display portion, asdescribed in this disclosure. In addition, certain networking,computing, imaging, and other well known techniques may be used tofacilitate certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, as described in thisdisclosure.

As described in this disclosure with respect to FIGS. 34 to 37, certainembodiment(s) component(s), and/or portion(s) of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configuredas an at least partially external device, while other embodiments can beconfigured as an at least partially internal device (and/or combinationthereof). FIG. 34 shows one embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, in which the at leastone emitter portion 150 is situated at least partially externally to theat least the portion of the individual 82; while at least a portion ofthe Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151 is situated at leastpartially externally to the at least the portion of the individual.

FIG. 35 shows one embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as described with respect to FIG.1, in which the at least one emitter portion 150 is situated at leastpartially internally to the at least the portion of the individual 82;while the at least a portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 is situated at least partially externally to the at leastthe portion of the individual.

FIG. 36 shows one embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as described with respect to FIG.1, in which the at least one emitter portion 150 is situated at leastpartially externally to the at least the portion of the individual 82;while the at least a portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 is situated at least partially internally to the at leastthe portion of the individual. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 35,certain portions of the at least one Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 (e.g., corresponding perhaps to the detector portion 152 ofFIG. 1), could be at least partially internally applied while otherportions of the at least one Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 (e.g., corresponding perhaps to the display portion 154 of FIG. 1)can be at least partially externally applied. Certain embodiments ofwireless, wired-based, data-transfer, image transfer, or other similarmechanism can allow for communication between the internal and externalportions of the at least one Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151.

FIG. 37 shows one embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as described with respect to FIG.1, in which the at least one emitter portion 150 is situated at leastpartially internally to the at least the portion of the individual 82;while the at least a portion of the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 is situated at least partially internally to the at leastthe portion of the individual. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 37,certain portions of the at least one Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 (e.g., corresponding perhaps to the detector portion 152 ofFIG. 1), could be at least partially internally applied while otherportions of the at least one Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151 (e.g., corresponding perhaps to the display portion 154 of FIG. 1)can be at least partially externally applied. Certain embodiments ofwireless, wired-based, data-transfer, image transfer, or other similarmechanism can allow for communication between the internal and externalportions of the at least one Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly151.

There can be a variety of embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 which may utilize atactile feedback such as to “transfer” some type of feel or touchsensation to the user. Such tactile feedback embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may beconsidered as one embodiment of the tool, as described in thisdisclosure such as relative to FIGS. 23, 39, and at other locations, forexample. For instance, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may include, or beassociated with, that can allow the operator such as a physician to“feel” at least some of the nodules such as to provide an indication asto whether they may be cancerous. The importance of theinterrelationship between sight and touch is well-recognized in manyhealth fields. For example, doctors, veterinarians, dentists,assistants, researchers, etc. often provide their analysis ofcombination of feeling and seeing at least a portion of the individual,in combination.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100, as described in this disclosure, therebyprovide considerable sight (at least partially internally and/or atleast partially externally) in the form of imaging, visualization,and/or information providing. Such “sight” as can be provider by certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can be combined with “touch”, which can beprovider by certain embodiments of tactile feedback mechanisms. Suchembodiments of the tactile feedback mechanism may include variouscomponents are mechanisms of automation, tactile feedback,remote-control, robotics, etc., as generally understood in thoserespective arts, and will not be described more fully in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of the tactile feedback mechanism may beparticularly useful when the particular Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 is being applied atleast partially internally to the individual, such that the user cannotalways see the internal location. Such tactile feedback embodiments areespecially useful for certain doctors, surgeons, veterinarians,dentists, assistants, researchers, etc. with somewhat limited senses oftouch and/or sight.

In certain instances, the tactile feedback may be partially associatedwith the diagnosis from a medical user such as a surgeon or doctor. Anumber of medical diagnosis, examination, treatment, and other practicesrely on a combination of sight in combination with touch. It is to beunderstood that during conventional breast cancer examinations, the“feel” or “touch” of the physician to detect breast cancer nodules in animportant portion of examination and/or diagnosis. Proctologists, forexample, are often forced to rely on touch or feel, since the ability tosee potential medical situations or conditions may be limited. As such,providing certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider with tactile capabilities may beparticularly important in the diagnosis or treatment phases. Forexample, certain doctors may more directly locate or tactilely “feel”for cancers, tumors, or which may be relatively hard as compared withthe surrounding matter, nodules, organs, tissue, fat, muscle, or othermatter. For dental users, the tactile feedback may by utilized inconjunction with a dental drill or pick, etc., such that the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beused to indicate the degree and/or area of dental decay, etc. duringdrilling, etc. It is to be understood that many types of users maysimilarly benefit from the tactile feedback being provided by certaintools by certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 could be configured to provide a variety oftypes of tactile feedback. Tactile feedback may be based on hardness orsoftness of the matter, such as iron or calcium concentration, orconcentration of other matter. The tactile feedback system could involvefeeding a signal representing some aspect of touchability (e.g., thematter is hard, soft, resilient, etc.) from the tactile system back tothe instrument, such as can be displayed, and/or provided as sometactile output to the user. Certain embodiments of the instrument maynot be able to “feel” the feedback information in a similar manner as aperson, and as such certain tactile output information can be returnedfrom the at least one visualization, image, and/or provided informationin image or data form. As such, the user of certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information providercould receive feedback either visually and/or tactically.

In addition, certain types of tools can be configured to be actuatedbased on user input. Such tools may be configured as an endoscope, oralternately some devoted type of tool such as a cutter, gamma knife,scalpel, separator, tactile feedback provider, ablator, surgicalsuction, etc. Such actuation of at least portions of tool based on userinput may be considered as a version of robotics, remote control,amplification, and/or automation. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured as allow controlled (e.g., robotic surgery), as well as imageprocessing to precisely detect organs, make incisions, cut matter away,ablate matter, visualize, image, and/or provide information relating toa region in matter, etc.

Certain embodiments of the tactile feedback could be provided on a probeor other portion of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 itself, such as in an endoscope. The greaterthe tactile feedback can enhance certain surgical techniques forsurgeons, certain dental techniques for dentists, certain veterinariantechniques for veterinarians, etc. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured as to generate a tactile response that can be detected by aperson at least partially in response to the X-ray Compton scatteredX-ray information. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to beminimally invasive to locate organ, and confirm whether it is at aperceived location. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could allow surgeons,etc. to visualize and/or operate such as to perform more complexsurgeries using “keyholes”, or incisions, within the patient.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 with tactile feedback can be configured tovisualize, image, and/or provide information from a location at leastpartially external to the at least the portion of the individual.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider with tactile feedback can be configured tovisualize, image, and/or provide information from a location at leastpartially internal to at least the portion of the individual (either viaa normally open location such as using an endoscope or via a normallyclosed location such as with an incision).

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 could therefore be utilized for a variety ofapplications and Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing techniques outside of scope of confessional X-ray.For example, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 could be situated, ormade viewable to the at least the portion of the individual at theirbedside such as they may view. As such, certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100may be utilized as a relatively inexpensive alternative to MRI, forexample, which doesn't necessarily enclose the body of the at least theportion of the individual as is the case with MRI, CT, etc. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 may therefore serve as a direct replacement, incertain applications, for such imaging technologies as MRI, CT, etc. Inaddition, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 might be preferred, in certainapplications, to ultrasound because of the considerable contrast of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider.

As described in this disclosure, certain embodiments of the emitterportion 150 may be at least partially steerable. Additionally, certainembodiments of the detector portion 152 may be at least partiallyadjustable to control the direction which it best receives X-ray-basedelectromagnetic radiation. Certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 may therefore beconfigured such that the emitter portion 150 is relatively closelyaligned with the detector portion 152. Similarly, certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 may be configured to such that the emitter portion 150 moves into anapproximate alignment with the detector portion 152, in certainembodiment as to create a standing pattern such as may be utilized tovisualize, image, and/or provide information relating to a regionutilizing scanning, such as is generally known with certain displaytechnologies. By utilizing such scanning embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,relatively good-quality Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing can be provided. Additionally, relatively lowpower may be necessary (as compared to other medical imagingmodalities), such as may be useful in limiting the exposure of the atleast the portion of the individual to relatively high-powered X-rays,as described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to identify a trend ofpattern correlating to the change in state to a pattern corresponding toa macrostate. These patterns can be correlated to a target indicative ofa particular condition. By comparing the visualized, imaged, orinformation provided pattern with the pattern recognized as representinga condition, illness, etc. The information, data, patterns, etc. can bemaintained in a database, the pattern of information can be used for aprognosis of the condition, illness, etc. The use of information, data,patterns, etc. as can be received by or pr processed from scatteredX-ray from Compton scattered X-ray can therefore be quite useful for avariety of purposes.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured to use selected portion ofnew slice info, and higher resolution info to produce compositevisualize, image, and/or provide information (having enhancedresolution) as compared to original visualizations, images, or providedinformation. Also, producing this can be responsive to matterdeformation modeling. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured toconsider information that can be not only anatomically obtained, butalso functionally obtained. (Instead or in addition to displaying info,correlate to a bio-state, or change in state. Change in state from aplurality of locations).

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured such as their at least oneemitter portion 150 and their at least one detector portion 152 integralto a tool (surgical, examination, positioning, scope-type, tactilefeedback provider, luminal, etc.). In certain instances, the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 mayprovide a proximity sensor function to the tool. For example, the atleast one emitter portion 150 may be sized such as to emit (insubstantially 4π or 2π steradians) at a desired frequency and/or energylevel based on the depth that is being examined or that the tool isbeing positioned, and the detector portion may be a pixellated X-raydetector portion array, an avalanche detector array, a CCD array, etc.Examples of X-ray detectors may include, but are not limited to,pixellated streak cameras, streak cameras, CCD devices, avalanchedetectors, or other devices. With certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, theemitter portion may produce a beam, where the detector portion is not apixellated array (e.g., including a Kulikov lens, and/or a Bragg lens).Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 might include the emitter portion at thedistal end of the tool, and the detector portion separated there fromeither in close proximity or by a considerable distance in a mannerdesirable to provide suitable Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 might beparticularly useful if positioned on, integrated into, or otherwiseassociated with the tool (e.g., situated on the tip of a probe orcutter, on at least one tip of scissors, on forceps, on needles, etc.).FIG. 39, for example, illustrates one embodiment of the tool (surgicalknife) including an embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. For the purpose of thisdisclosure, certain endoscopes as described with respect with FIG. 23can be considered as tools that can include certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.Certain embodiments of tools may also be associated with a tactilefeedback mechanism that provides at least some tactile feedback, whichby themselves may be considered as another embodiment of tool withinthis disclosure. It may therefore be desirable to position certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 on, proximate to, or to provide viewability of,operative surfaces of a variety of such tools as surgical tools, tactilefeedback providers, etc. Such embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can thereby provide avisualization, imaging, or information providing from the viewpoint ofthe tool.

Implants, constructs, pins, screws, etc. such as may be positionedwithin the individual may be considered as one embodiment of the tool,which may include certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. Additionally, certainimplants, constructs, pins, screws, etc. can be viewed as tools that ininclude certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. Certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canprovide an added benefit, such that when a user such as a surgeon isplacing a pedicle screw, it is highly desired to stay within the pediclebecause if the surgeon goes outside they may contact a nerve root. Assuch, the embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can act as a pedicle guide. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby be considered to combine with awarning system that can utilize certain embodiments of the depthvisualizing, imaging, or information providing controller 97. Certainembodiments of the depth visualizing, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 can include, as data or information, a variety ofindividual information, such as patient information, injury, illness,and if the user (doctor, dentist, veterinarian, etc.) is positioning thetool at an undesired location or performing some undesired procedure(e.g., at the wrong side of the patient's body), in which instance asuitable alarm may be actuated in the event of a suitable event.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can thereby be configured as a surgicaltool, certain of which may be configured to act as a proximity sensor,while output from others may be displayed. It is envisioned that theemitter portion 150 and/or the Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 could be integral to the surgical tool and/or tactilefeedback provider. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured toimage once, multiple times, or can include a number of or at least onedisplaceable emitter portion(s) to provide scanning. In certaininstances, upon the surgical tool being positioned relative to the atleast the portion of the individual is configurable to emit X-ray basedelectromagnetic radiation suitable to image to a controllable depth intoan at least one matter of at least a portion of the individual to beused to derive depth visualizations, images, or provided information atleast partially in response to Compton scattered X-ray of the X-raybased electromagnetic radiation. The detector portion may also beintegral to the surgical tool and/or tactile feedback provider that isoperable, and as such may be alignable and/or controllable. Certainembodiments of the emitter portion may include scopes, but may also beat least partially externally situated. Certain of the at leastpartially internal embodiments may be inserted through insertion or viaa normally open opening to be at least partially applied relative to atleast a portion of the individual such as to receive at least oneCompton scattered X-ray that has been Compton scattered in an at leastone matter, etc. of the at least the portion of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controlling 97 are configured particularly to generate thedepth visualizations or images that can be displayed over the displayportion 154 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, as described with respect to FIG. 1, and otherlocations through this disclosure. By comparison, certain embodiments ofthe visualization, imaging, or information providing controlling 97, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 38, can be configured to produceinformation that can be displayed over certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100,which can be observed by the user and/or individual (human). Consider,for example, the embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 that can scan individuals for suchaspects as cancers (e.g., breast cancer, melanomas), tumors, bloodvessel locations (perhaps in diabetics to provide insulin shots), heartcondition, bone fragments or portions (especially useful at certainsporting events, etc.), burn victim examination, and/or a variety ofemergencies or situations which a variety of emergency, rescue, medical,as well as individuals who wish to examine themselves at locationsremote from conventional imaging equipment are likely to encounter.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider can utilize lower power requirements andconventional imagers since they rely on Compton scattered X-ray ofX-rays instead of transmission X-rays (i.e., the latter requiresproviding enough energy to the X-ray photons to pass the X-ray photonsthrough the image portion of the individual, instead of scatteringwithin the individual as with the former). Since less energies requiredfor typical operation of the Compton scattered X-ray depth andvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100; they can thereby beconfigured to operate with reduced input voltages. It is feasible thatcertain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be made to use power supplies a medicalclinics, homes, offices, vehicles, etc. and can thereby be madeconsiderably more portable than conventional imaging equipment.

By allowing certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to operate usingrelatively low power as compared to conventional imaging systems, islikely that the visualization, imaging, and/or information providingsystems can be utilized in regions remote from sophisticated electricalinfrastructure. As such, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be applied toremote medical facilities, or regions, sporting events, officelocations, relatively poor or remote regions, villages, islands, etc.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can thereby be situated where the medical,dental, rescue, emergency, or other need is (e.g., where sick, injured,or other individuals to be examined may be situated), as compared towhere relatively large power supplies or complex or expensive imagingequipment may be located.

As such, certain portable embodiments of the at least the portion of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can utilize such portable energy-provided devices as fuel cells,batteries, generator, etc. By allowing a wide range of portable energysources, such as allowed by relatively low power usage by certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, relatively portable embodiments ofvisualizing, imaging, or information providing solutions can beprovided.

As such, certain user-operated embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configuredto be used in, and are designed to be suitable to be used in, theparticular location of the user (e.g., doctor's office, operating room,emergency center, rescue vehicle, ambulance, dentist office,veterinarian, a vehicle, the individual's home or office, a remotevillage, etc.) to visualize, image, and/or provide information at leasta portion of the individual, or receive information relating to theindividual. Certain individual-operated, home-based, office based, orother remote embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 can be configured to be used in, andare designed to be suitable to be used in) the home, office, or otherlocation of the user that can be used by the user (who may be theindividual) as a home-style version to visualize, image, and/or provideinformation at least a portion of the individual, or receive informationrelating to the individual. The different user-operated orindividual-operated embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can each have variedfunctions and/or operations.

Considering the privacy issues, and the time required for patients tovisit doctors, etc., the individual-operated embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to allow people, and other individuals, to monitor a varietyof aspects of their own condition. Consider the privacy, flexibility,independence, and other benefits that home pregnancy tests have providedfor women. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured toprovide depth visualization, images, and/or associated informationrelated to a variety of other conditions, illnesses, injuries,sicknesses, and other conditional, medical, and/or routine check-upaspects. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 could even be designed based, atleast partially, on X-ray radiation limiting, user input, ergonomics,quality of imaging, and other such factors; and might be updated,improved, and changed as appropriate based on usage and feedbackconsiderations.

Certain embodiments of the individual-operated embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be configured to be devoted to only one, or a relatively few,devoted task (e.g., cancer or tumor scans, blood vessel locator, bonefragment detector, etc.). By being devoted to a few specific tasks,these devoted embodiments of the individual-operated embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be made relatively inexpensively, and relatively simple, for theindividual and/or other person using it. Consider that patients, familymembers, friends, etc. would typically be expected to have relativelylittle training and/or experience with imaging systems, and a such, suchembodiments should be made relative straight forward to understand withrelatively little training.

By applying certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 to conventional imagingequipment, certain devoted tasks, logic, computer programming,electronic circuitry, and/or other processing circuitry can makerelatively clear analysis, determinations, prognosis, etc. as comparedcertain relatively expensive and multi-use conventional imagingequipment such as MRIs and CAT scan devices. As such, a particularlyexemplary embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured for a particular of a fewdevoted operations such as examining for such conditions, illnesses, orinjuries as melanomas, cancers, tumors, bone condition, tissuecondition, ligament or tendon condition, etc. Certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can be designed, for example, to scan region of the individual for suchaberrations as they may occur.

Thereupon, certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 can be configured to determinelogically (using a combination of hardware, software, firmware, asdescribed in this disclosure) whether the condition falls within limitsas to require further examination, for example. Certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider100 can be configured to provide such devoted tasks with output in theform of imaging and/or visualization. Although certain embodiments ofthese devoted devices can more suitably, and less expensively, outputone or more of a variety of information resulting at least partiallyfrom some analysis and processing in a non-image-based mode (e.g., text,graphics, analysis output, etc.) which could be of considerable use bothto trained and/or untrained users.

There are a variety of techniques by which certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100that can visualize, image, or provide information to within a depthsubstantially scattered range to a prescribed substantially scattereddepth in at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual. Certain of these techniques are illustrated in FIGS. 40 and41, for example.

FIG. 40, for example, illustrates an embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that canvisualize, image, or provide information to within the depthsubstantially scattered range to between the prescribed substantiallyscattered depth 168, 170 a, 170 b in at least some matter of the atleast the portion of the individual by applying a number of appliedX-rays 120 m, 120 n, and 120 o that respectively scatter at respectivescattering events sitated at differing respective prescribedsubstantially scattered depth 168, 170 a, 170 b to provide respectivescattered X-rays 122 m, 122 n, and 122 o. Though the number of appliedX-rays 120 m, 120 n, and 120 o are illustrated as being applied atdifferent angles (such as from multiple emitter portions are differentangles, or from a single emitter portion through several collimators),it should be understood that though these applied X-rays 120 m, 120 n,and 120 o can be applied parallel or spaced from each other, such asbeing provide from an array. The respective scattered X-rays 122 m, 122n, and 122 o can be detected by certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151.

FIG. 41, for example, illustrates an embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that canvisualize, image, or provide information to within the depthsubstantially scattered range to between the prescribed substantiallyscattered depth 168, 170 a, 170 b in at least some matter of the atleast the portion of the individual by the at least one emitter portion150 applying a single applied X-ray 120 p that scatters at respectivescattering events sitated at differing respective prescribedsubstantially scattered depth 168, 170 a, 170 b to provide respectivescattered X-rays 122 p, 122 q, and 122 r. The respective scatteredX-rays 122 p, 122 q, and 122 r can be detected by certain embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151.

Certain characteristics of electromagnetic waves, currents, flows,fields, etc. (including aspects relating to X-rays, X-ray photons,electrons, etc.) is described in The Electrical Engineering Handbook,Second Edition, Richard C. Dorf, CRC Press/IEEE Press, (incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety). Certain types of X-rays, which maybe characterized broadly as electromagnetic waves, particles, fields,currents, etc., can be controlled, adjusted, varied, weakened,intensified, directed, etc. utilizing certain shielding, shaping, and/orelectromagnetic controller techniques; such as are generally understoodby those skilled in electrical engineering and/or electromagnetics.Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can utilize X-rays, electromagnetic signals,particles, waves, etc. for Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing.

2. CONTROLLABLE AND/OR ADJUSTABLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE COMPTON SCATTEREDX-RAY VISUALIZER, IMAGER, OR INFORMATION PROVIDER

As described with respect to FIG. 1, certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 candirect the applied X-ray 120 toward matter underneath a surface of atleast a portion of the individual. The applied X-ray can be scattered bythe matter of the at least a portion of the individual based on Comptonscattered X-ray aspects and equations, as described in this disclosure.Based upon the amount of Compton's scattering, the energy level loss ofthe X-ray photons during the scattering event, and other such scatteringcharacteristics, can be considered during Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing. In certain instances,the energy level of the X-ray photons being applied to the matter of theindividual can be ramped up, decreased, modified, maintained, etc. asdescribed in this disclosure with respect to FIGS. 42 to 45. Certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can thereby visualize, image, or provideinformation relating to particular matter based at least partially onincreasing, reducing, modifying, or maintaining the energy levels of theX-ray photons (and thereby conversely decreasing the frequency of theX-ray photons) included in the applied X-rays, and thereby controllingand/or adjusting the operation of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider. As the energy level of theX-ray photons respectively increases or decreases, within the at leastone visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth range to the atleast one prescribed visualizing, imaging, or information providingdepth of a considerable majority of the photons can thereupon generallyrespectively increase or decrease, though not typically in a linearfashion.

While the embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 as described with respect to FIGS. 42-45illustrate the at least one emitter portion 150 whose output iscontrolled by an additional device; in actuality the distinct addeddevice can be considered as an integral portion of the at least oneemitter portion. As such, certain embodiments of the at least oneemitter portion may be considered as configured to apply adjustableand/or controllable applied X-rays toward the at least some matter ofthe at least the portion of the individual.

As described above, there can be a variety of mechanisms that can beused to adjust and/or control certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, largelybased on operation of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 to control and/or adjust the energy level,frequency, or other characteristics of the X-ray photons included in theapplied X-ray 120. There are other mechanisms which may be utilized tocontrol and/or adjust this depth visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding of certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

The modification, control, adjustment, etc. in the characteristics ofCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providinginto the matter of the at least the portion of the individual may notnecessarily follow a linear function relative to the increasing energylevels of the X-ray photons making up the applied X-rays. In addition,since the matter of such individuals is not homogenous, the rate ofCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingmay vary as a function of the material within the individual beingimaged. For example, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured forimaging at least partially through bone would be expected to differconsiderably (e.g., requiring different, likely increased, energy levelsof the photons) as compared to the imaging characteristics required forless dense matter such as tissue, fluids such as blood or water, tumors,gums, various organs, etc. As such, certain embodiment of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can beconfigured to adjust and/or control the at least one visualizing,imaging, or information providing depth range to the at least oneprescribed visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth such asby using a variety of techniques as described in this disclosure.

FIG. 42 shows another embodiment of the control or adjustment mechanism302, in which an anode switching or modifying mechanism (e.g., toinclude an adjustable anode wheel, or varying photon generator, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 8 or 9) can allow for physically alteringor changing of the anode 834. Certain embodiments of the anode 834 havebeen described with respect to FIG. 8 or 9. For instance, the anodewheel has been described with respect to FIG. 8, and is described withrespect to FIG. 42. The anode wheel can be rotated (e.g., using a stepor motor, etc.), such as to align a different anode such as might havedifferent materials, configurations, and/or dimensions, etc. such as toallow a change in the anode that is in communication with the electronstream, thereby providing varied energy levels (e.g., frequencies ofX-ray photons) for the applied X-ray 120. Certain embodiments of theanode wheel 4202 can be rotated or displaced about an axis 4204, such asby using a stepper motor or other suitable actuator, such as to operablyposition at least one anode 834 of the desired material, size, shape,configuration, etc. within the emitter portion as desired. Positioningan anode having the desired characteristics within the emitter portionas described with respect to FIG. 8 effectively generates the appliedX-rays having the desired characteristics (e.g., X-ray photon energylevel and corresponding frequency). Additionally, certain embodiments ofthe photon generator 880, as described with respect to FIG. 9, can beconfigured to provide X-ray photons having varied intensities and/orfrequencies, such that could be used to control and/or adjust certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. For example, the photon generator as describedwith respect to FIG. 9 could include multiple distinct photonsgenerators, each of which could be individually actuated as to provide acontrollable and/or adjustable version of the applied X-ray 120 havingthe desired X-ray photon frequency and/or energy level characteristics.

FIG. 43 shows another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 including one embodimentof a control or adjustment mechanism 302 that can be utilized by certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider, in which the angle of the applied X-ray 120 can beadjusted or controlled by being angled relative to the surface 168 ofthe at least the portion of the individual 82. As the angle of theapplied X-ray 120 changes, the at least one visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing depth range to the at least one prescribedvisualizing, imaging, or information providing depth can vary as acosine function of the angle. As such, increasing the angle of theapplied X-ray can therefore reduce the at least one visualizing,imaging, or information providing depth range to the at least oneprescribed visualizing, imaging, or information providing depth in apredictable, adjustable, and/or controllable fashion.

FIG. 44 shows another embodiment of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 including anotherembodiment of the control or adjustment mechanism 302, in which an X-raydepth-imaging depth reducing mechanism can be operationally appliedbetween the emitter portion 150 the surface of the at least the portionof the individual (or at some other locations) as to limit the at leastone depth substantially scattering range to the at least one prescribedsubstantially scattering depth to reduce the energy level of the X-rayphotons being applied to the at least the portion of the individual.Consider that, in general, as the applied X-rays 120 travel through thematter of the at least the portion of the individual, they typicallylose energy. As such, the X-ray depth-imaging depth reducing mechanismcan be configured is any device or mechanism that can similarly reducethe energy level of the X-ray photons of the applied X-ray prior tobeing applied to the at least the portion of the individual. Certainembodiments of the adjustment or control mechanism 44 as illustrated inFIG. 44 could include an X-ray energy level or frequency modulator ormodifier.

As such, the effective at least one substantial scattering within the atleast one substantially scattering depth range to the at least oneprescribed substantially scattering depth 120 can enter into the matterof the at least the portion of the individual can be reduced byinitially passing through certain embodiments of the X-ray depth-imagingdepth reducing mechanism can be reduced. Certain X-ray depth-imagingdepth reducing mechanism to embodiments of the control or adjustmentmechanism 302 can effectively decrease the energy level and/or frequencyof the X-ray photons included in the applied X-rays 120. Various X-raydepth-imaging depth reducing mechanism to arrange for a layer ofmaterial that at least partially dissipates the energy of the X-rayphotons, to at least one semiconductor device or other mechanism thatcan modulate X-ray frequencies and thereby reduce energies, etc.

FIG. 45 shows another embodiment of the adjustable or controllablemechanism 302 by which a variety of filters would be applied to theapplied X-ray to filter out at least certain frequency X-rays, whileallowing at least other frequency X-rays to pass. Certain embodiments ofthe emitter portion 150 thereby can include multiple X-ray generators,multiple anodes, or multiple devices that each can generate X-raysphotons having a distinct frequency. Alternately, certain embodiments ofthe emitter portion 150 can generate a broadband X-ray including X-rayshaving a range of frequencies, only certain ones of which are allowed topass through the filter embodiment of the adjustment or controlmechanism 302. For instance, FIG. 45 shows one filtering embodiment ofthe adjustment or control mechanism 302 that allows X-ray photons havingfrequency corresponding to applied X-ray 120 x to pass, while limitingthe ability of X-ray photons having frequencies corresponding to appliedX-rays 120 y and 120 z to pass.

There are therefore a variety of configurations of various embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 that can include a variety of types of adjustment orcontrol mechanism 302 by which the energy level of X-ray photons can becontrolled or adjusted. Certain embodiments of the at least one emitterportion 150 and/or the at least one Compton scattered X-ray receivingassembly 151 can be configured in arrays, or by having slightlydifferent operating characteristics. As such, one or more of the atleast one emitter portion 150 and/or the at least one Compton scatteredX-ray receiving assembly 151 can be actuated and/or deactuated,depending on characteristic, position, angle, etc. such as to allow forcontrol and/or adjustment of the visualizing, imaging, or providinginformation modalities.

Additionally, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayreceiving assembly 151 can be directed, positioned, angled, filtered, orotherwise operated to only receive certain scattered X-rays. While theseembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 are not illustrated, it is to be understoodthat certain embodiments of the adjustment or control mechanism 302 canbe situated relative to the at least one emitter portion 150, relativeto the at least one Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly 151, atsome median location, or elsewhere. Certain embodiments of theadjustment or control mechanism 302 can be software, hardware, firmware,and/or processor intensive such as to only consider certain of thescattered X-rays as received by certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray receiving assembly 151.

The various exemplary embodiments of the adjustment or control mechanism302 as described with respect to FIGS. 42 to 45 are intended to beillustrative in nature, but not limiting in scope. Any of a variety oftechniques by which the frequency (and the corresponding energy level)of the X-ray photons of the applied X-rays being applied to the at leastsome matter of the at least a portion of the individual may beconsidered as another embodiment of the adjustment or control mechanism,within the scope of the present disclosure.

Additionally, certain embodiments of the adjustment or control mechanismcan be applied to respectively adjust or control the X-ray photons ofthe scattered X-ray 122 being scattered from the scattering event withinthe matter of the at least the portion of the at least a portion of theindividual. A variety of such adjustment or control techniques such asfiltering, correlating, controlling, or selectively monitoring certainX-ray photon frequency or energy levels of the scattered X-rays.

There may be some of the X-ray photons of the applied X-ray that arebeing altered such as by ramping, reducing, modification, maintaining,in which the applied X-rays is applied into the matter of the individualcan scatter within the at least one substantially scattered depth rangeto the at least one prescribed substantially scattered depth for thatparticular or instantaneous visualizing, imaging, or informationproviding period. Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be configured tolimit the effects of the X-ray photons of the Compton scattered X-rays120 that are returning from a depth greater than the within the at leastone substantially scattered depth range to the at least one prescribedsubstantially scattered depth. Additionally, the depth visualizing,imaging, or information providing effects of these X-ray photons of theCompton scattered X-rays 120 can be included in the Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing, with anydistortive effects during the ramping operation either ignored,filtered, and/or otherwise limited using signal processing techniques.

Such increase or ramping of the energy level of the applied X-ray can beperformed by those embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can be tuned. Therate of ramping (e.g., the rate of the photon energy level) can therebybe set or controlled either manually or by setting the visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97. Experimentation couldbe used to provide an indication of a suitable ramping rate for theparticular matter(s) of the at least the portion of the individual.

With a ramping function, each increase in the energy of the X-rayphotons of the applied X-ray such as would be expected to provide anincreased in the within the at least one substantially scattered depthrange to the at least one prescribed substantially scattered depth canbe monitored by the Compton scattered X-ray receiving assembly. Forexample, certain pulse signals can initially be applied, and time offlight calculations can be utilized to determine the within the at leastone substantially scattered depth range to the at least one prescribedsubstantially scattered depth.

3. CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE VISUALIZATION, IMAGING, OR INFORMATIONPROVIDING CONTROLLER

This disclosure describes a number of embodiments of the visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 as described withrespect to FIG. 1, which is intended to control and/or adjust Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing by theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100of at least the portion of the individuals 82. As such, certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 can operate without, and/or with littleinteraction from, the visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97. By comparison, certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canutilize considerable input from, and/or entirely utilizing input from,the visualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can thereby include the visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 as described withrespect to FIG. 1; while other embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider may not includeutilizing the visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller. For example, certain scintillator-based and/orfluoroscope-based embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider may convert received X-ray based photonsdirectly into viewable and/or visible photons (which may or may beamplified using a photomultiplier or CCD) to allow direct Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing, whichmay limit the necessity of image processing that may largely rely on thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97. Bycomparison, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can utilize input fromthe user, such as to determine location, angle, position, resolution,X-ray frequency, energy level, time of depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing, and other such Compton scattered X-rayvisualization, imaging, or information providing related factors orcharacteristics. Such Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, orinformation providing characteristics may be selected, controlled,and/or altered using certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging,or information providing controller 97.

Some depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing information,data, images, signals, etc. associated with certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100and/or the visualization, imaging, or information providing controller97 may be digital based, while other embodiments may be analog based.For instance, certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 including thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97, whichare largely digital and/or microprocessor-based, can provide for largelyautomated actuation of Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging,or information providing and/or signals of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 and/or the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider(s) 104. Anumber of the components of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider(s) 104 may rely on analog and/or digitalcontrollers and/or computers which may be capable of generating signalswith considerable power. Other lower-powered signals from the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider(s) 104 maybe either analog and/or digitally controlled. Certain visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 that are configured toturn particular circuits on or off, for example, may be particularlyefficient and/or effective if digital based. Certain embodiments of thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 can beconfigured to, upon a normal operation, compensate for at least somedistortion as can be provided by the depth visualizing, imaging, orinformation providing region of the at least the portion of theindividual. FIG. 1 can represent a block diagram of certain respectiveembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 that can include the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 to either control and/or adjust theCompton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingwithin the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider, or some other related operations.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can be configured in which an energy levelrequired to image using conventional transmissive X-ray technologies tothe controllable or adjustable ones of the within the at least onevisualizing, imaging, or information providing depth range to the atleast one prescribed visualizing, imaging, or information providingdepth. In certain instances, the energy intrusion level can be less (andin certain instances, considerably less) than the energy intrusion levelrequired to image using conventional transmissive X-ray technologythrough the entirety of the at least the portion of the individual 82.By using reduced to X-ray dosages, certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 canimage, utilize, or provide information while remaining within a safeemitted radiation level for the individual as well as though one or moreusers, which can result from application of smaller dosages. Certainembodiments of the visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 can even be configured to monitor, change, adjust, ormaintain X-ray exposure levels within the at least the portion of theindividual, X-ray exposure levels by the individual and/or the user(s),and/or X-ray levels in the vicinity of the individual and/or the user,etc.

Certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 are configured to provide control and/oradjustability of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 based, at least in part, on the Comptonscattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or information providingoperation and/or configuration of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider. For example, if a userwishes to control and/or adjust an angle, a position, an X-ray photonfrequency or energy level, a resolution, the within the at least onevisualizing, imaging, or information providing depth range to the atleast one prescribed visualizing, imaging, or information providingdepth, or at least one other Compton scattered X-ray visualization,imaging, or information providing parameter; then the user could providesuitable input to the visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97. Such input to the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 can be provided via the input/output interface,which in certain embodiments may be a graphical user interface (GUI),for example.

If the user wishes to visualize, image, and/or provide informationrelating to a portion of the individual on a real time basis, acontinuous basis, a sequential basis, or another repetitive basis, thenthe type of depth visualizing, imaging, or information providing canalso be selected using the input/output interface 811 of thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97. Certainembodiments of the input/output interface 811 can additionally providean indication to the user of some aspect of the depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information, such as if the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider is incapable of thedepth imaging, visualizing, or information providing; and will likelynot expose the user and/or individual to unacceptable X-ray dosages,etc.

Certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 can thereby include, but are not limited to,a variety of configurations of the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97. Certain embodiments of thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 can alsobe at least partially computer based, controller based, mote based,cellular telephone-based, and/or electronics based. Certain embodimentsof the visualization, imaging, or information providing controller canbe segmented into modules, and can utilize a variety of wirelesscommunications and/or networking technologies to allow information,data, etc. to be transferred to the various distinct portions orembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100. Certain embodiments of the visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 can be configured as aunitary device, a networked device, a stand alone device, and/or anycombination of these and other known type devices.

Certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 can vary as to their automation, complexity,and/or sophistication; and can be utilized to control, setup, establish,and/or maintain communications between a number of communicating devicesduring Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding operation(s). As described within this disclosure, multipleones of the different embodiments of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can transfer informationor data relating to the communication link to or from a remote locationand/or some intermediate device as might be associated withcommunication, monitoring and/or other activities. Certain embodimentsof the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 can vary as to the particular visualization modality,imaging modality, and/or information providing modality.

Certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97, as well as certain embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 (ingeneral), can utilize distinct firmware, hardware, and/or softwaretechnology. For example, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can at leastpartially utilize one or more of: mote-based technology,microprocessor-based technology, microcomputer-based technology, displaytechnology, imaging technology, general-purpose computer technology,specific-purpose computer technology, Application-Specific IntegratedCircuits (AASICs), and/or a variety of other computer, electronics,electromagnetic, imaging, visualizing, and/or information providingtechnologies, such as can be utilized by certain embodiments of thevisualization, imaging, or information provider controller 97.

Certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 can as described with respect to FIG. 1 caninclude depending on context a processor 803 such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a memory 807, a circuit or circuit portion 809,and an input output interface (I/O) 811 that may include a bus (notshown). Certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can include and/or be aportion of a general-purpose computer, a specific-purpose computer, amicroprocessor, a microcontroller, a personal display assistant (PDA), acellular phone, a wireless communicating device, a hard-wiredcommunication device, and/or any other known suitable type ofcommunications device or phone, computer, and/or controller that can beimplemented in hardware, software, electromechanical devices, and/orfirmware. Certain embodiments of the processor 803, as described withrespect to FIG. 1, can perform the processing and arithmetic operationsfor certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. Certain embodiments of thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100can control the signal processing, database querying and response,computational, timing, data transfer, and other processes associatedwith Compton scattered X-ray visualization, imaging, or informationproviding such as can be adjusted by and/or controlled by certainembodiments of the visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100.

Certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 (depending in part of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualization, imaging, or information providing process beingattempted or performed by the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100), will undergo considerable imageprocessing by the processor 803. Particularly, those embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100that can visualize, image, and/or provide information relating to arelatively large area, image to relatively high resolution, imagecontinuously, sequentially, and/or repetitively will provide a largeamount of images or image information. As such, certain embodiments ofthe components of the visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 should be designed and configured to handle the type ofvisualization, image, and/or provided information processing that thesubsurface Compton scattered X-ray image processing will be exposed.Certain types of image compression (e.g., lossy and/or lossless datacompression techniques) may be utilized in the visualization, imaging,or information providing controller 97 to limit production or storage ofexcessive volumes of redundant data.

Certain embodiments of the memory 807 of the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 can include a random access memory(RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM) that together can store the computerprograms, operands, and other parameters that control the operation ofcertain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. The memory 807 can be configurableto contain data, information, images, visualizations, image information,etc. that can be obtained, retained, or captured by that particularvisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97, asdescribed in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the bus can be configurable to provide fordigital information transmissions between the processor 803, circuits809, memory 807, I/O 811, the visualization, image, and/or providedinformation memory or storage device (which may be integrated orremovable), other portions within the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider(s) 104, and/or otherportions outside of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider(s) 104. In this disclosure, the memory 807 can beconfigurable as RAM, flash memory, semiconductor-based memory, of anyother type of memory that can be configurable to store data pertainingto depth visualizations, images, and/or provided information. Certainembodiments of the bus can also connects I/O 811 to the portions ofcertain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 of either the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 that can either receivedigital information from, or transmit digital information to otherportions of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, or other systems and/or networking componentsassociated therewith.

Certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, as described with respect to FIG.1, can include a separate, distinct, combined, and/or associatedtransmitter portion (not shown) that can be either included as a portionof certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. Certain embodiments of thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 canalternately be provided as a separate and/or combined unit (e.g.,certain embodiments might be processor-based and/or communicationtechnology-based).

Certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 as described with respect to FIG. 1can include an operation altering or controlling portion (described withrespect to FIG. 32) that can be either included as a portion of certainembodiments of the visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100, or alternately can be provided as a separateor combined unit.

Certain embodiments of the memory 807 can provide an example of a memorystorage portion. In certain embodiments, the monitored value includesbut is not limited to: a percentage of the memory 807, an indication ofdata that is or can be stored in the memory 807, or for data storage orrecording interval. Such memory can include information about theindividual, the treatment, the user, the treating or examining facility,etc.; and also may include one or more visualization, image, or providedinformation as provided by certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100, or alternately ascan be provided by another visualization, image, or information sourcesuch as tomography visualizations, images, or provided information, MRI,CT scan, PET scan, etc. such as can be used to provide a combined image,visualization, or information. To provide for overflow ability for thememory 807 of certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100, a secondary storagedevice can be operably coupled to the memory 807 to allow a controllabletransmitting of memory data from certain embodiments of thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100when the monitored value of data or other information within the memory807 exceeds a prescribed value. The prescribed value can include, e.g.,some percentage amount or some actual amount of the value.

In certain embodiments, a secondary communication link can beestablished between the certain embodiments of the visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100. The secondarycommunication link can be structured similar to as a communication link,or alternatively can utilize network-based computer connections,Internet connections, etc. to provide information and/or data transferbetween certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100.

In certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100, the particular elements of certainembodiments of the visualization, imaging, or information providingcontroller 97 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 (e.g., the processor 803, the memory 807, thecircuits 809, and/or the I/O 811) can provide a monitoring function toconvert raw data as displayed by an indicator. A monitoring function asprovided by certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be compared to aprescribed limit, such as whether the number of depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information contained in the memory 807, theamount of data contained within the memory 807, or some other measurerelating to the memory is approaching some value. The limits to thevalue can, in different embodiments, be controlled by the user or themanufacturer of certain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, orinformation providing controller 97 of the Compton scattered X-rayvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100. In certain embodiments,the memory 807 can store such information as data, information,displayable information, readable text, motion depth visualizations,images, and/or provided information, video depth visualizations, images,and/or provided information, and/or audio depth visualizations, images,and/or provided information, etc.

In certain embodiments, the I/O 811 provides an interface to control thetransmissions of digital information between each of the components incertain embodiments of the visualization, imaging, or informationproviding controller 97 of the Compton scattered X-ray visualizer,imager, or information provider 100. The I/O 811 also provides aninterface between the components of certain embodiments of thevisualization, imaging, or information providing controller 97 of theCompton scattered X-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.The circuits 809 can include such other user interface devices as adisplay and/or a keyboard. In other embodiments, the visualization,imaging, or information providing controller 97 of the Compton scatteredX-ray visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 can be constructedas a specific-purpose computer such as an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or othersimilar devices.

4. CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE COMPTON SCATTERED X-RAY DEPTH VISUALIZER,IMAGER, OR INFORMATION PROVIDER WITH RELEVANT FLOWCHARTS

Within the disclosure, flow charts of the type described in thisdisclosure apply to method steps as performed by a computer orcontroller as could be contained within certain embodiments of theCompton scattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100, as described in this disclosure. Additionally, the flowcharts as described in this disclosure apply operations or proceduresthat can be performed entirely and/or largely utilizing mechanicaldevices, electromechanical devices, or the like, such as certainembodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager, orinformation provider 100 as described in this disclosure. The flowcharts can also apply to apparatus devices, such as an antenna or a nodeassociated therewith that can include, e.g., a general-purpose computeror specialized-purpose computer whose structure along with the software,firmware, electro-mechanical devices, and/or hardware, can perform theprocess or technique described in the flow chart.

An embodiment of the Compton scattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager,or information provider 100 that can act to compensate for a distortionby the depth visualizer has been described with respect to FIG. 1, andelsewhere in this disclosure. There can be a variety of embodiments ofthe Compton scattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager, or informationprovider 100 that can be used to visualize, image, or provideinformation etc. as described in this disclosure. There can be varietyof embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager,or information provider 100.

FIG. 46 shows certain embodiments of a tomographic-type Compton depthscattering visualizing, imaging, of information providing technique 4600such as described with respect to, but not limited to, the Comptonscattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 ofFIG. 1, and elsewhere in this disclosure. Certain embodiments of ahigh-level flowchart of the Compton depth scattering visualizing,imaging, of information providing technique 4600 is described withrespect to FIG. 46 and can include, but is not limited to, operation4602. Certain embodiments of operation 4602 can include, but is notlimited to, capturing one or more tomographic-type Compton scatteringbased visualizations, images, or provided information of an at leastsome matter of at least a portion of an individual based at leastpartially on Compton scattering of an at least one X-ray being appliedto the at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual. For example, certain embodiments of the Compton scatteredX-ray depth visualizer, imager, or information provider 100 as describedthrough this disclosure can be configured to visualize, image, orprovide information in tomographic-type slices based at least partiallyon Compton depth scattering.

FIG. 47 shows certain embodiments of a material characteristicdistribution function-type Compton depth scattering visualizing,imaging, of information providing technique 4700 such as described withrespect to, but not limited to, the Compton scattered X-ray depthvisualizer, imager, or information provider 100 of FIG. 1, and elsewherein this disclosure. Certain embodiments of a high-level flowchart of theCompton depth scattering visualizing, imaging, of information providingtechnique 4700 is described with respect to FIG. 47 and can include, butis not limited to, operation 4702. Certain embodiments of operation 4702can include, but is not limited to, deriving an at least one materialcharacteristic distribution function that substantially fits at leastsome data obtained at least partially by scattering of an at least oneapplied X-ray within at least some matter of at least a portion of anindividual to form at least one Compton scattered X-ray. For example,certain embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray depth visualizer,imager, or information provider 100 as described through this disclosurecan be configured to visualize, image, or provide information intomographic-type slices based at least partially on Compton depthscattering.

In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are notlimited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting theherein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming canbe virtually any combination of hardware, software, electromechanicalsystem, and/or firmware configurable to effect the herein-referencedmethod aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

5. CONCLUSION

This disclosure provides a number of embodiments of the Comptonscattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager, or information provider 100.The embodiments of the Compton scattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager,or information provider as described with respect to this disclosure areintended to be illustrative in nature, and are not limiting its scope.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the artin computer, controller, communications, networking, and other similartechnologies has progressed to the point where there is littledistinction left between hardware, firmware, and/or softwareimplementations of aspects of systems, such as may be utilized in theCompton scattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager, or informationprovider. The use of hardware, firmware, and/or software can thereforegenerally represent (but not always, in that in certain contexts thechoice between hardware and software can become significant) a designchoice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill inthe art will appreciate that there are various vehicles by whichprocesses and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein canbe effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and that thepreferred vehicle can vary with the context in which the processesand/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed. For example, ifan implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, theimplementer and/or designer of the Compton scattered X-ray depthvisualizer, imager, or information provider may opt for mainly ahardware and/or firmware vehicle. In alternate embodiments, ifflexibility is paramount, the implementer and/or designer may opt formainly a software implementation. In yet other embodiments, theimplementer and/or designer may opt for some combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible techniquesby which the processes and/or devices and/or other technologiesdescribed herein may be effected, none of which is inherently superiorto the other in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependentupon the context in which the vehicle can be deployed and the specificconcerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of theimplementer, any of which may vary.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,target individual 82 and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware,software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In Certainembodiments, several portions of the subject matter described herein maybe implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs),Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors(DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the artwill recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearingmedia used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signalbearing media include, but are not limited to, the following: recordabletype media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digitaltape, and computer memory; and transmission type media such as digitaland analog communication links using TDM or IP based communication links(e.g., packet links).

All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications,U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applicationsand non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/orlisted in any Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein byreference, in their entireties.

It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that, in general,that the terms used in the disclosure, including the drawings and theappended claims (and especially as used in the bodies of the appendedclaims), are generally intended as “open” terms. For example, the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to”; theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least”; and the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to”;etc. In this disclosure and the appended claims, the terms “a”, “the”,and “at least one” positioned prior to one or more goods, items, and/orservices are intended to apply inclusively to either one or a pluralityof those goods, items, and/or services.

Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C”would include but not be limited to systems that could have A alone, Balone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together,and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems thatcould have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and Ctogether, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the herein-describedspecific exemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies arerepresentative of more general processes and/or devices and/ortechnologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filedherewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopeand spirit being indicated by the following claims.

1. A method, comprising: capturing one or more tomographic-type Comptonscattering based visualizations, images, or provided information of anat least some matter of at least a portion of an individual based atleast partially on Compton scattering of an at least one X-ray beingapplied to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual, and further comprising combining the one or moretomographic-type Compton scattering based visualizations, images, orprovided information with at least one additional images provided by anon-Compton scattering based imaging modality.
 2. A method, comprising:capturing one or more tomographic-type Compton scattering basedvisualizations, images, or provided information of an at least somematter of at least a portion of an individual based at least partiallyon Compton scattering of an at least one X-ray being applied to the atleast some matter of the at least the portion of the individual, andfurther comprising volumetrically visualizing, imaging, or providinginformation through an at least one visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth range to an at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth in the at leastsome matter of the at least the portion of the individual at leastpartially by combining the one or more tomographic-type Comptonscattering based visualizations, images, or provided information,wherein the volumetrically visualizing, imaging, or providinginformation through the at least one visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth range to the at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth in the at leastsome matter of the at least the portion of the individual is performedat a rate sufficient to substantially capture a physical motion that isconsistent with an individual-based physiological process.
 3. A method,comprising: capturing one or more tomographic-type Compton scatteringbased visualizations, images, or provided information of an at leastsome matter of at least a portion of an individual based at leastpartially on Compton scattering of an at least one X-ray being appliedto the at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual, and further comprising volumetrically visualizing, imaging,or providing information through an at least one visualization, imaging,or information providing depth range to an at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth in the at leastsome matter of the at least the portion of the individual at leastpartially by combining the one or more tomographic-type Comptonscattering based visualizations, images, or provided information,wherein the volumetrically visualizing, imaging, or providinginformation through the at least one visualization, imaging, orinformation providing depth range to the at least one prescribedvisualization, imaging, or information providing depth in the at leastsome matter of the at least the portion of the individual is performedat a rate sufficient to substantially capture a physical motion that isconsistent with a user-observable physiological process.
 4. A method,comprising: deriving an at least one material characteristicdistribution function that substantially fits at least some dataobtained at least partially by scattering of an at least one appliedX-ray within at least some matter of at least a portion of an individualto form at least one Compton scattered X-ray, and further comprisingmapping the at least some matter of the at least the portion of theindividual at least partially in response to the deriving the at leastone material characteristic distribution function that substantiallyfits the at least some data obtained at least partially by scattering ofthe at least one applied X-ray.
 5. An apparatus, comprising: a Comptonscattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager, or information provideroperable to derive a material characteristic distribution functionwithin an at least some matter of at least a portion of an individualthat substantially fits at least some data obtained at least partiallyby scattering of an at least one applied X-ray to form at least oneCompton scattered X-ray, wherein the Compton scattered X-ray depthvisualizer, imager, or information provider is operable at a ratesufficient to substantially capture a physical motion that is consistentwith an individual-based physiological process.
 6. An apparatus,comprising: a Compton scattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager, orinformation provider operable to derive a material characteristicdistribution function within an at least some matter of at least aportion of an individual that substantially fits at least some dataobtained at least partially by scattering of an at least one appliedX-ray to form at least one Compton scattered X-ray, wherein the Comptonscattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager, or information provider isoperable at a rate sufficient to substantially capture a physical motionthat is consistent with a user-observable physiological process.
 7. Anapparatus, comprising: a Compton scattered X-ray depth visualizer,imager, or information provider operable to derive a materialcharacteristic distribution function within an at least some matter ofat least a portion of an individual that substantially fits at leastsome data obtained at least partially by scattering of an at least oneapplied X-ray to form at least one Compton scattered X-ray, wherein theCompton scattered X-ray depth visualizer, imager, or informationprovider is further operable to map the at least some matter of the atleast the portion of the individual.